Table 5

Association between shoulder complaints and exposure to pushing and pulling over 50 kg

Trouble (ache, pain, discomfort)High pain intensityHigh disability
Crude and adjusted prevalence rate ratios for pushing and pulling (and 95% CI) are presented. Prevalence rate ratios were estimated in three separate regression models for each of the three dimensions of complaints. Adjusted prevalence rate ratios were estimated using multivariate models (all included confounding factors and corresponding adjusted prevalence rate ratios are presented in the corresponding column). Gender and age were a priori forced into the models.
Crude prevalence rate ratios
Reference group1.001.001.00
Medium exposed group1.08 (0.74 to 1.56)1.84 (0.85 to 3.99)2.25 (0.82 to 6.20)
High exposed group1.60 (1.12 to 2.31)4.22 (2.04 to 8.75)3.70 (1.37 to 9.96)
Adjusted prevalence rate ratios
Reference group1.001.001.00
Medium exposed group1.13 (0.78 to 1.64)1.97 (0.78 to 5.00)3.46 (0.99 to 12.17)
High exposed group2.09 (1.35 to 3.24)6.37 (2.36 to 17.13)6.23 (1.55 to 25.13)
Confounding factors
Gender
    Men1.001.001.00
    Women2.42 (1.73 to 3.39)4.16 (2.17 to 7.99)3.17 (1.27 to 7.94)
Age1.01 (0.99 to 1.02)0.99 (0.96 to 1.02)1.00 (0.97 to 1.04)
Education
    High1.00
    Low1.94 (1.09 to 3.46)
Working above shoulder height
    Reference group1.001.001.00
    Medium exposed1.82 (1.13 to 2.94)2.35 (1.13 to 4.86)2.93 (1.03 to 8.35)
    High exposed
Skill discretion
    High1.00
    Low1.74 (1.00 to 3.03)
Psychosocial work demands
    Low1.00
    High1.46 (0.68 to 3.12)
Coworker support
    High1.001.00
    Low0.92 (0.54 to 1.58)1.30 (0.60 to 2.83)
Supervisor support
    High1.00
    Low1.05 (0.49 to 2.25)