Table 4
Summary of the strength of evidence of risk factors for shoulder pain
| Study references | Consistency of findings | Strength of association: (OR/RR)4-150 | Median method score: % | ||
| Heavy physical load | MS ⩾60%: 17,20,23,26,27,28,29 | MS ⩾60%: 3/7 = 43% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.7, 3.6, 5.4 | Positive findings: 47 | |
| MS <60%: 30,34,35,36,37,42,45,46 | MS <60%: 4/7 = 57% positive | MS <60%: 2.0 to 2.3, 5.5, ? | No association: 60 | ||
| Awkward postures | MS ⩾60%: 17,19,20,26,29,44 | MS ⩾60%: 3/6 = 50% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.4, 1.6, 2.8→3.1 | Positive findings: 56 | |
| MS <60%: 30,31,33,37,41,45,46 | MS <60%: 7/7 = 100% positive | MS <60%: 2.1, 5.1, 10.6, ? | No association: 71 | ||
| Repetitive movements | MS ⩾60%: 17,26,44 | MS ⩾60%: 3/3 = 100% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.6, 2.3, 46 | Positive findings: 59 | |
| MS <60%: 31,33,37,40,45 | MS <60%: 3/5 = 60% positive | MS <60%: 7→10→1.5, ? | No association: 48 | ||
| Same activity for a prolonged period of time | MS ⩾60%: 24,25,27 | MS ⩾60%: 1/3 = 33% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.6 | Positive findings: 53 | |
| MS <60%: 32,33 | MS <60%: 2/2 = 100% positive | MS <60%: 1.9, 18.8 | No association: 65 | ||
| Vibration | MS ⩾60%: 18,23, | MS ⩾60%: 2/2 = 100% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.04/y, 2.6 | Positive findings: 57 | |
| MS <60%: 36,37,39,45 | MS <60%: 2/4 = 50% positive | MS <60%: ? | No association: 45 | ||
| Duration of employment | MS ⩾60%: 19,22,23,24 | MS ⩾60%: 3/4 = 75% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.4, 3.9→2.1, 2.3→3.2 | Positive findings: 62 | |
| MS <60%: 30,32,36,40,41,43 | MS <60%: 3/6 = 50% positive | MS <60%: 1.9, ? | No association: 47 | ||
| Psychological work demands | MS ⩾60%: 17,20,21,22,24,25,26,27 | MS ⩾60%: 4/8 = 50% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.5, 1.5, 1.5, 1.7 | Positive findings: 59 | |
| MS <60%: 30,31,32,36,37,45 | MS <60%: 4/6 = 67% positive | MS <60%: ? | No association: 68 | ||
| Job control | MS ⩾60%: 17,21,22,24,25,26,27 | MS ⩾60%: 4/7 = 57% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 4.0 | Positive findings: 68 | |
| MS <60%: 31,32,37,38 | MS <60%: 2/4 = 50% positive | MS <60%: ? | No association: 65 | ||
| Social support | MS ⩾60%: 17,20,21,24,25,26,27 | MS ⩾60%: 0/7 = 0% positive | MS ⩾60%: — | Positive findings: 53 | |
| MS <60%: 31,32,37,38,43 | MS <60%: 3/5 = 60% positive | MS <60%: 1.6, ? | No association: 65 | ||
| Job satisfaction / stimulation at work | MS ⩾60%: 17, 21,25,26,27 | MS ⩾60%: 3/5 = 60% positive | MS ⩾60%: 1.3, 1.5, 2.7 | Positive findings: 59 | |
| MS <60%: 30,31,35,36,37,38,43,45 | MS <60%: 3/7 = 43% positive | MS <60%: 2.5, ? | No association: 53 | ||
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↵4-150 Some studies, particularly those with relatively poor method scores, did not present ORs or RRs. Other indicators of the strength of the association between exposures and shoulder pain (correlation coefficients, p values) are presented in table 3.
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MS=method score (median method score was 60%).
