Table 3.
Change in percentage of workers with MSDs over a period of 2 years per bodily region among construction workers, percentage (95% CI) and frequency
| Bodily region | Decrease in complaints % (95% CI) (relative frequency) |
No change (no complaints) % (95% CI) (relative frequency) |
No change in complaints % (95% CI) (relative frequency) |
Increase in complaints % (95% CI) (relative frequency) |
p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neck (n = 633) | 21 (18–24) (132/633) |
52 (48–56) (330/633) |
10 (8–12) (64/633) |
17 (14–20) (107/633) |
0.10 |
| Shoulders (n = 638)* | 28 (24–31) (176/638) |
43 (39–47) (274/638) |
12 (10–15) (79/638) |
17 (14–20) (109/638) |
0.02 |
| Upper back (n = 573) | 17 (14–20) (99/573) |
61 (57–65) (348/573) |
2 (1–4) (14/573) |
20 (16–23) (112/573) |
0.91 |
| Lower back (n = 664) | 24 (21–27) (160/664) |
30 (27–34) (201/664) |
21 (18–24) (140/664) |
25 (21–28) (163/664) |
0.37 |
| Elbows (n = 613) | 17 (14–19) (101/613) |
60 (56–64) (368/613) |
6 (4–8) (35/613) |
18 (15–21) (109/613) |
0.92 |
| Wrists/hands (n = 627) | 24 (20–27) (148/627) |
50 (46–54) (314/627) |
7 (5–9) (44/627) |
19 (16–22) (121/627) |
0.69 |
| Hips/upper legs(n = 613) | 21 (18–24) (129/613) |
57 (53–61) (350/613) |
6 (4–7) (36/613) |
16 (13–19) (98/613) |
0.60 |
| Knees (n = 649) | 25 (21–28) (159/649) |
41 (37–45) (266/649) |
14 (11–16) (89/649) |
21 (18–24) (135/649) |
0.12 |
| Ankles/feet (n = 619) | 18 (15–21) (113/619) |
57 (53–61) (353/619) |
5 (3–6) (28/619) |
20 (17–23) (125/619) |
1.00 |
*p < 0.05.
CI, confidence interval; MSD, musculoskeletal disorder.