Prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal disorders in firefighters are influenced by age and length of service
| Autor: | Joy C. MacDermid, Kathryn E. Sinden, Margaret Lomotan, Ahmed Negm, Norma J. MacIntyre, Robert D'Amico |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Demographics business.industry 05 social sciences Mean age General Medicine Lower Extremity Functional Scale 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine 030202 anesthesiology Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire Cohort Physical therapy Medicine 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Length of service business 050107 human factors Neck Disability Index |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. 3:33-41 |
| ISSN: | 2368-7924 |
| DOI: | 10.3138/jmvfh.2017-0002 |
| Popis: | Introduction: The objective of this cross-sectional study is to describe the prevalence and severity of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in firefighters and how these vary by demographics and length of service (LOS). Methods: A cohort of 294 active-duty firefighters completed a body diagram to indicate the location and pain intensity of their MSK complaints. Where painful sites were indicated, they completed the relevant region-specific self-report disability measure – Neck Disability Index (NDI), Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), or the Short Form of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) – to quantify severity. Prevalence was determined from the body diagrams and severity from the site-specific self-report questionnaires. Differences in MSK severity based on demographics or LOS were determined using ANOVA. Results: The 294 active-duty firefighters had a mean age of 42.6 (SD 9.7) years and mean duration of service of 15.1 (SD 10.1) years. The prevalence of neck, back, upper-limb, and lower-limb complaints was 20%, 33%, 44%, and 45% respectively. Firefighters 42 years or older reported significantly more severe lower-extremity disability (median (IQR) LEFS: 71 (65, 77) vs. 75 (69.5, 78.5), p=0.03) and more severe back disability (median (IQR) RMDQ: 2 (1, 3) vs. 1 (0, 2), p=0.04). Firefighters with 15 years or more of firefighting service reported significantly more severe lower extremity disability (median (IQR) LEFS: 71 (64, 77) vs. 76 (70, 79), p=0.0005). Firefighters reporting >1 MSDs were significantly older than firefighters reporting no MSD ( F(5,285)=3.3, p=0.002). Discussion: The rate of MSDs is high in firefighters, and their severity is elevated with greater age and LOS, suggesting cumulative exposures/injuries and highlighting the need for ongoing assessment of the musculoskeletal system and interventions to reduce injury throughout firefighters' careers. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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