Do Musculoskeletal Disorders Affect Work Tasks in Farmers: A Study of Rural Saskatchewan

J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Sep 1;64(9):e591-e596. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002637. Epub 2022 Jul 21.

Abstract

Objective: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among farmers, yet associated difficulty during work is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the connection between MSDs and work-related task difficulty in rural Saskatchewan.

Methods: Rural Saskatchewan farmers and farm workers with history of MSD in the last 5 years ( n = 72) participated via an online survey.

Results: Shoulder MSDs were the most common (75%), followed by neck (65%), knees (61%), and lower back (58%). Many participants reported more than one MSD. Presence of MSDs leads to difficulty in work tasks; for example, difficulty when operating power tools with hands was 8.7 times more likely for those with shoulder MSD.

Conclusions: MSDs in rural Saskatchewan farmers are associated with greater work task difficulty, and future research into risk factors related to those tasks can guide prevention strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Farmers
  • Humans
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / complications
  • Occupational Diseases* / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Saskatchewan / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Upper Extremity