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Is there a relationship between fibromyalgia syndrome and work conditions?

Larsson, Britt LU and Balogh, I (2005) In Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain 13(4). p.5-14
Abstract
Objectives: This Study examines the initial course of the fibronlyalgia syndrome [FMS] and the influence of physical and psychosocial work-place factors on developing FMS. Methods: Patients with FMS were recruited to participate in a structured interview about pain and physical and psychosocial load. In addition, they participated in a clinical examination. Physical load in occupational life was assessed by two validated indices relevant for risk evaluation of pain in the upper extremities and the neck. Results: Of the 116 female FMS patients [25-45 years] recruited, 64 agreed to participate. Seventy percent of the participants noted that their pain started out as localized pain. The neck [52 percent], the shoulders [45 percent], and the... (More)
Objectives: This Study examines the initial course of the fibronlyalgia syndrome [FMS] and the influence of physical and psychosocial work-place factors on developing FMS. Methods: Patients with FMS were recruited to participate in a structured interview about pain and physical and psychosocial load. In addition, they participated in a clinical examination. Physical load in occupational life was assessed by two validated indices relevant for risk evaluation of pain in the upper extremities and the neck. Results: Of the 116 female FMS patients [25-45 years] recruited, 64 agreed to participate. Seventy percent of the participants noted that their pain started out as localized pain. The neck [52 percent], the shoulders [45 percent], and the low back [28 percent] were the regions most frequently cent engaged. The localized pain worsened to widespread pain [median six years after start of pain]. For the 71 percent of the participants who were working at the onset of pain, the onset occurred after eight occupationally active years. They scored relatively high on the validated measures of physical load for the employment period, including the time for onset of pain. To a higher degree, the FMS patients had heavy and light repetitive work compared to the age-matched women from the same geographic area. The odds ratio affected by FMS when occupied in heavy or light repetitive work was 5.1 [95 percent CI: 3.4-7.7] compared to subjects occupied in administration, computer work, or medium heavy variable work-tasks. Conclusions: Job strain and strenuous events were more common in the FMS group than in the control group. The majority of FMS patients had been exposed to a substantially risky physical workload. Hence, we consider physical workload as an important fisk factor for localized pain and for FMS. Occurrence of job strain probably enhances the risk for the development of FMS. The frequently reported strenuous events might have contributed to spreading localized pain. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
fibromyalgia, physical, psychosocial
in
Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain
volume
13
issue
4
pages
5 - 14
publisher
Haworth Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000236344400003
  • scopus:33646564051
ISSN
1540-7012
DOI
10.1300/J094v13n04_03
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d9235ee9-bb93-4770-9b64-331afdb49677 (old id 208502)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:56:23
date last changed
2022-01-26 20:27:18
@article{d9235ee9-bb93-4770-9b64-331afdb49677,
  abstract     = {{Objectives: This Study examines the initial course of the fibronlyalgia syndrome [FMS] and the influence of physical and psychosocial work-place factors on developing FMS. Methods: Patients with FMS were recruited to participate in a structured interview about pain and physical and psychosocial load. In addition, they participated in a clinical examination. Physical load in occupational life was assessed by two validated indices relevant for risk evaluation of pain in the upper extremities and the neck. Results: Of the 116 female FMS patients [25-45 years] recruited, 64 agreed to participate. Seventy percent of the participants noted that their pain started out as localized pain. The neck [52 percent], the shoulders [45 percent], and the low back [28 percent] were the regions most frequently cent engaged. The localized pain worsened to widespread pain [median six years after start of pain]. For the 71 percent of the participants who were working at the onset of pain, the onset occurred after eight occupationally active years. They scored relatively high on the validated measures of physical load for the employment period, including the time for onset of pain. To a higher degree, the FMS patients had heavy and light repetitive work compared to the age-matched women from the same geographic area. The odds ratio affected by FMS when occupied in heavy or light repetitive work was 5.1 [95 percent CI: 3.4-7.7] compared to subjects occupied in administration, computer work, or medium heavy variable work-tasks. Conclusions: Job strain and strenuous events were more common in the FMS group than in the control group. The majority of FMS patients had been exposed to a substantially risky physical workload. Hence, we consider physical workload as an important fisk factor for localized pain and for FMS. Occurrence of job strain probably enhances the risk for the development of FMS. The frequently reported strenuous events might have contributed to spreading localized pain.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Britt and Balogh, I}},
  issn         = {{1540-7012}},
  keywords     = {{fibromyalgia; physical; psychosocial}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{5--14}},
  publisher    = {{Haworth Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain}},
  title        = {{Is there a relationship between fibromyalgia syndrome and work conditions?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J094v13n04_03}},
  doi          = {{10.1300/J094v13n04_03}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}