Table 2.
Musculoskeletal Pain Symptoms in the Past 12 Months by Body Region Among California Nurses (n = 454)
| Musculoskeletal symptoms by body region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Low back, n = 280 (%) | Neck, n = 221 (%) | Shoulder, n = 190 (%) | Hands/wrists, n = 189 (%) |
| Pain symptoms over the past 12 months | ||||
| No | 174 (38.3) | 234 (51.5) | 264 (58.1) | 265 (58.4) |
| Yes | 280 (61.7) | 221 (48.5) | 190 (41.9) | 189 (41.6) |
| Symptoms frequency | ||||
| Daily | 51 (18.2) | 49 (22.2) | 48 (25.4) | 48 (25.4) |
| Almost daily | 66 (23.6) | 63 (28.5) | 41 (21.7) | 41 (21.7) |
| Weekly | 53 (18.9) | 49 (22.2) | 43 (22.8) | 43 (22.8) |
| Monthly | 31 (11.1) | 19 (8.6) | 23 (12.2) | 23 (12.2) |
| Every 2–3 months | 38 (13.6) | 17 (7.7) | 11 (5.8) | 11 (5.8) |
| Every 4–6 months | 29 (10.4) | 16 (7.2) | 13 (6.9) | 13 (6.9) |
| One time only | 12 (4.3) | 8 (3.6) | 10 (5.3) | 10 (5.3) |
| Symptom duration | ||||
| <1 day | 89 (31.9) | 57 (26.3) | 46 (24.5) | 46 (24.5) |
| <1 week (1–6 days) | 104 (37.3) | 72 (33.2) | 59 (31.4) | 59 (31.4) |
| <2 weeks (7–13 days) | 21 (7.5) | 12 (5.5) | 14 (7.4) | 14 (7.4) |
| 2 weeks to less than 1 month | 13 (4.7) | 13 (6.0) | 18 (9.6) | 18 (9.6) |
| 1–3 months | 12 (4.3) | 9 (4.1) | 8 (4.3) | 8 (4.3) |
| >3 months | 40 (14.3) | 54 (24.9) | 43 (22.9) | 43 (22.9) |
| Symptoms intensity | ||||
| Mild/minimal | 139 (49.8) | 99 (45.4) | 86 (45.5) | 86 (45.5) |
| Moderate | 124 (44.4) | 101 (46.3) | 83 (43.9) | 83 (43.9) |
| Severe | 15 (5.4) | 17 (7.8) | 18 (9.5) | 18 (9.5) |
| Worst ever in life | 1 (0.4) | 1 (0.5) | 2 (1.1) | 2 (1.1) |
Note. The total numbers for frequency, duration, and intensity can vary due to missing data.