Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Farmers and Non-farmers: A Population-based Study
Abstract
Farming has been considered a high-risk occupation for musculoskeletal disorders. However, documentation of the increased risk is weak except for hip osteoarthritis. 1,013 full-time farmers in nine Swedish municipalities and 769 non-farmers (referents), matched for age, sex, and residential area, participated in the study. Information about medical history, consultations, and sick leave for musculoskeletal disorders was obtained by questionnaire and interview. The farmers reported significantly more symptoms affecting the hands and forearms, low back, and hips than did the non-farmers, and a non-significant trend in the same direction was found for symptoms from the neck, shoulders, and knees. However, the farmers did not seek medical advice more often than the referents, and they reported significantly less sick leave for these problems. Thus, farmers appear to have more musculoskeletal symptoms than do non-farmers.
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Farmers did not utilize health care offers more often and took less sick leave than non-farmers despite experiencing more musculoskeletal problems in different pain regions.
“According to a population-based Swedish study at the beginning of the century, farmers did not utilize health care offers more often and took less sick leave than non-farmers despite experiencing more musculoskeletal problems in different pain regions [12].”
Musculoskeletal symptoms are increased in farmers compared to non-farmers.
“Musculoskeletal symptoms are increased in farmers”
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- Authors
- Holmberg, S., Stiernström, E.-L., Thelin, A., & Svärdsudd, K.
- Affiliations
- Uppsala University (SE)
- Venue
- International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
- Publisher
- Maney Publishing
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 339-345
- ISSN
- 1077-3525 (ISSN-L)
- 2049-3967
- OpenAlex
- W2018246522
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
- Keywords
- musculoskeletal symptoms, farmers, occupational health, low back pain, hip pain, neck and shoulder pain, knee pain, sick leave, medical consultation, occupational risk
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Agricultural Workers' Diseases, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Occupational Diseases, Population Surveillance, Sweden, Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic, Case-Control Studies
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