Table 3.

Region-specific distribution of subjectively reported causes of musculoskeletal disorders

Body region	Total attributions (n)	Reported causes subsumed in thematic categories (n; %)
Neck / cervical spine	152	equipment-related load (79; 41.6%); posture-related factors (34; 17.9%); muscle tension (19; 10.0%); overuse/cumulative strain (14; 7.4%); acute injury/trauma (6; 3.2%)
Thoracic spine	104	equipment-related load (83; 79.9%); overuse/cumulative strain (5; 4.8%); muscle tension (5; 4.8%); degenerative or structural conditions (7; 6.7%); non-specific (4; 3.8%)
Lower back / lumbar spine	174	equipment-related load (82; 47.1%); overuse/cumulative strain (33; 19.0%); posture-related factors (28; 16.1%); acute injury/trauma (15; 8.6%); muscle tension (11; 6.3%); degenerative or structural conditions (5; 2.9%);
Shoulder	96	equipment-related load (38; 36.9%); overuse/cumulative strain (27; 26.2%); acute injury/trauma (14; 13.6%); degenerative or structural conditions (6; 5.8%); non-specific (6; 5.8%); muscle tension (3; 2.9%); posture-related factors (2; 1.9%)
Hand / wrist	43	overuse/cumulative strain (20; 46.5%); acute injury/trauma (14; 32.6%); non-specific (6; 14.0%); equipment-related load (2; 4.7%); posture-related factors (1; 2.3%)
Elbow	37	overuse/cumulative strain (19; 51.4%); equipment-related load (6; 16.2%); acute injury/trauma (6; 16.2%); non-specific (6; 16.2%)
Hip / upper leg	41	muscle tension/disbalance (12; 24.0%); equipment-related load (8; 16.0%); sport/training (5; 10.0%); acute injury/trauma (5; 10.0%); posture-related factors (4; 8.0%); non-specific (4; 8.0%); overuse/cumulative strain (3; 6.0%)
Knee	54	acute injury/trauma (14; 35.2%); overuse/cumulative strain (15; 27.8%); equipment-related load (10; 18.5%); non-specific (8; 14.8%); degenerative or structural conditions (5; 9.3%); muscle tension (2; 3.7%)
Foot and ankle	46	acute injury/trauma (15; 43.5%); equipment-related load/long standing with heavy equipment (16; 34.8%); overuse/cumulative strain (4; 8.7%); non-specific (6; 13.0%); degenerative or structural conditions (5; 10.9%);

(multiple attributions per individual permitted; percentages refer to region-specific attributions)