Risk factors for regional pain in past month
| Risk factor | Low back | Neck | Shoulder | Elbow | Wrist/hand | Knee | ||||||
| n | OR* (95% CI) | n | OR* (95% CI) | n | OR* (95% CI) | n | OR* (95% CI) | n | OR* (95% CI) | n | OR* (95% CI) | |
| Any pain in past month† | ||||||||||||
| Physical activity‡ | 421 | 1.9 (1.4 to 2.5) | 87 | 1.2 (0.9 to 1.6) | 76 | 1.2 (0.9 to 1.7) | 81 | 1.2 (0.8 to 2.0) | 86 | 1.9 (1.3 to 2.6) | 144 | 2.0 (1.5 to 2.7) |
| Somatising tendency§ | ||||||||||||
| 0 | 348 | 1 | 240 | 1 | 98 | 1 | 71 | 1 | 90 | 1 | 160 | 1 |
| 1 | 113 | 1.7 (1.3 to 2.3) | 106 | 2.3 (1.8 to 3.1) | 77 | 1.9 (1.4 to 2.6) | 16 | 1.2 (0.7 to 2.1) | 29 | 1.6 (1.0 to 2.5) | 52 | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) |
| ≥2 | 158 | 3.1 (2.4 to 4.0) | 125 | 3.2 (2.4 to 4.2) | 97 | 2.8 (2.1 to 3.8) | 31 | 2.5 (1.6 to 4.1) | 38 | 2.2 (1.4 to 3.3) | 71 | 2.6 (1.9 to 3.6) |
| Job dissatisfaction | 260 | 1.3 (1.0 to 1.6) | 225 | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.4) | 201 | 1.1 (0.9 to 1.5) | 68 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.7) | 64 | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.1) | 133 | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.4) |
| Disabling pain in past month† | ||||||||||||
| Physical activity‡ | 180 | 2.2 (1.5 to 3.4) | 24 | 1.6 (0.9 to 2.7) | 24 | 1.1 (0.6 to 1.8) | 24 | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.4) | 39 | 1.8 (1.1 to 3.0) | 95 | 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9) |
| Somatising tendency§ | ||||||||||||
| 0 | 128 | 1 | 37 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 90 | 1 |
| 1 | 38 | 1.6 (1.0 to 2.4) | 17 | 2.3 (1.2 to 4.2) | 19 | 2.5 (1.4 to 4.5) | 4 | 1.0 (0.3 to 2.9) | 18 | 2.7 (1.4 to 4.9) | 38 | 2.1 (1.4 to 3.2) |
| ≥2 | 82 | 4.5 (3.2 to 6.4) | 33 | 5.0 (2.9 to 8.4) | 45 | 7.2 (4.4 to 11.8) | 14 | 3.9 (1.8 to 8.2) | 21 | 3.4 (1.8 to 6.3) | 51 | 3.3 (2.2 to 4.9) |
| Job dissatisfaction | 157 | 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) | 36 | 1.1 (0.7 to 1.8) | 38 | 1.2 (0.8 to 2.0) | 18 | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.3) | 27 | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.7) | 79 | 1.1 (0.8 to 1.6) |
↵* For each anatomical site and pain outcome, ORs were derived from a logistic regression model that included all of the risk factors presented together with sex, age (in four strata), mental health (in three strata) and occupational group.
↵† Risks are relative to no pain at site in past month.
↵‡ Stressful occupational activity in an average working day defined as lifting weights of ≥25 kg by hand (low back), work with the hands above shoulder height for ≥1 h (neck and shoulder), repeated bending and straightening of elbow for ≥1 h (elbow), use of a keyboard or repeated movements of hands/fingers for ≥4 h (wrist/hand), kneeling or squatting for ≥1 h (knee).
↵§ Number of somatic symptoms causing at least moderate concern in past week.