Occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among railroad maintenance-of-way workers. 2020

Paul Landsbergis, and Eckardt Johanning, and Marco Stillo, and Rahul Jain, and Michelle Davis
State University of New York (SUNY)-Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York.

Our objective was to examine occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, back, and knee among railroad maintenance-of-way (MOW) workers. Four thousand eight-hundred sixteen active, retired, and disabled members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) completed a survey. We computed adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) using Poisson regression for neck, back, and knee musculoskeletal symptoms by work exposures, adjusted for age, region, race/ethnicity, smoking, and potential second job and spare time vehicle vibration exposure. Among active male BMWED members, we found associations between use of high-vibration vehicles and neck pain (aPR = 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-2.03) and knee pain (aPR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.04-1.82) for more than 1.9 years (vs 0) of full-time equivalent use; but not back pain. Back pain radiating below the knee (sciatica indicator) was associated with high-vibration vehicle use greater than 0.4 and less than 1.9 years (aPR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.15-2.18). We also found significant associations between often or always lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending on the job (vs seldom or never) and neck pain (aPR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.20-4.90), back pain (aPR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.24-3.03), the sciatica indicator (aPR = 5.18, 95% CI: 1.28-20.95), and knee pain (aPR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.47-5.51), along with positive gradients in the outcome by exposure time. Biomechanical work exposures, including force and nonneutral postures, were associated with neck, lower back, and knee pain. Whole-body vibration, as measured by the duration of use of high-vibration vehicles, was associated with neck pain, knee pain, and sciatica. Prevention programs should address occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among MOW workers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007719 Knee Joint A synovial hinge connection formed between the bones of the FEMUR; TIBIA; and PATELLA. Superior Tibiofibular Joint,Joint, Knee,Joint, Superior Tibiofibular,Knee Joints,Superior Tibiofibular Joints,Tibiofibular Joint, Superior
D008283 Maintenance The upkeep of property or equipment. Maintenances
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009140 Musculoskeletal Diseases Diseases of the muscles and their associated ligaments and other connective tissue and of the bones and cartilage viewed collectively. Orthopedic Disorders,Musculoskeletal Disease,Orthopedic Disorder
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011187 Posture The position or physical attitude of the body. Postures
D011890 Railroads Permanent roads having a line of rails fixed to ties and laid to gage, usually on a leveled or graded ballasted roadbed and providing a track for freight cars, passenger cars, and other rolling stock. Cars are designed to be drawn by locomotives or sometimes propelled by self-contained motors. (From Webster's 3d) The concept includes the organizational and administrative aspects of railroads as well. Subways,Railroad,Subway
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D006306 Health Surveys A systematic collection of factual data pertaining to health and disease in a human population within a given geographic area. Abortion Surveys,Abortion Survey,Health Survey,Survey, Abortion,Survey, Health,Surveys, Abortion,Surveys, Health

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