The Ergonomics Open Journal

2008, 1 : 34-38
Published online 2008 June 9. DOI: 10.2174/1875934300801010034
Publisher ID: TOERGJ-1-34

Psychological and Physical Workload and the Development of Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Female Elderly-Care Workers

Pernilla Larsman and Jan Johansson Hanse
Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relations between psychological and physical workload and musculoskeletal neck, shoulder and upper back symptoms. In this longitudinal two-phase cohort study a survey was conducted among non-managerial female elderly-care workers (n = 553). The analyses were based on respondents who were considered free from the respective symptoms at initial ratings, resulting in study samples of n = 230 for neck symptoms, n = 211 for shoulder symptoms, n = 400 for upper back symptoms, and n = 204 for low back symptoms. The results indicate that psychological workload is related to the development of musculoskeletal (neck and upper back) symptoms measured at an 18-month follow-up, both in itself and in combination with physical workload. The most important finding was that psychological workload shows significant temporal relations to neck and upper back symptoms.

Keywords:

Psychological workload, physical workload, musculoskeletal symptoms.