The associations of work style and physical exercise with the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in nurses

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in nurses, and to explore the association of work style and physical exercise with WMSD in this professional group. Material and Methods In this study, a cross-sectional survey design was applied. A questionnaire survey was conducted on 692 nurses in 5 municipal hospitals, in the period August–October 2015. The survey included personal information, lifestyle, physical exercise and symptoms of WMSD. Chi² test and logistic regression were used to identify the risk factors of WMSD. Results The prevalence of WMSD was 84% in all parts of the body in the previous year, with the highest prevalence in the neck (68.2%), followed by waist (67.6%) and shoulder (54.6%). Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that physical exercise, night shifts and staying up late were associated with WMSD in nurses. The lack of exercise, night shifts and a tendency to stay up significantly increased the risk of WMSD (p < 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the municipal hospital nursing staff is high. An elevated risk of WMSD is observed in nurses who do not do exercises, work shifts and stay up late. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):15–24