A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Construction Workers: Findings from a Pilot Study

Details

• Personal Author:
  Becker J ; Caban-Martinez, Alberto J. ; Herrick R ; Kenwood C ; Lowe K ; Sorensen, Glorian ; Stoddard A
• Description:
  Introduction: Construction workers have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, a major cause of work-related disabilities, lost-time illness, and injuries. Heavy physical work demands and awkward body postures make them particularly vulnerable to musculoskeletal pain, and research has shown that regular physical activity may reduce musculoskeletal pain. Objective: To examine whether self-reported musculoskeletal pain is associated with engagement in Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) among construction workers and explore the potential influence of socio-demographic correlates and type of LTPA on this association. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Methods: Data were collected in 2011 from 43 workers employed at a commercial construction sites in the New England area, through a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, one semi-structured, focus group was conducted with 5 workers. Results: Over 93% of construction workers engaged in LTPA and 70% reported musculoskeletal pain in the 3 months prior to survey administration. Fifty-seven percent of workers who met LTPA guidelines reported lower extremity pain (i.e. ankle, knee) compared with 21% of those who did not (p=0.04). Lower levels of LTPA were associated with higher age, lower education, being married, and having health insurance, although these relationships were not statistically significant. The top five most frequently reported LTPAs include: walking, bicycling, hockey, weightlifting, and gardening. Furthermore, qualitative analyses indicate "being too tired from work" and "no interest" as barriers and "insurance incentives" as potential motivators for LTPA. Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study suggest that construction workers engage in regular and various types of LTPA despite musculoskeletal pain. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Occupational Health Construction Workers MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Physical Activity Physical Exercise Posture Total Worker Health TWH
• Publisher:
  American Public Health Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; Florida ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061465
• Citation:
  APHA 140th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 27-31, 2012, San Francisco, California. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2012 Oct; :274123
• Contact Point Address:
  Alberto Caban-Martinez, PhD, DO, MPH, CPH, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL, USA 33134
• Email:
  acabanAPHA@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20070901
• Source Full Name:
  APHA 140th Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 27-31, 2012, San Francisco, California
• End Date:
  20260831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:550921d449a8589e79e6a34dd716210dc085b5c82b2afc8034b0004b9b24a62683abbf9a8bc8ef85dd1e0b8eaddd6ef5917b5707e2e0aea3fc72fc3d9299edb1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224994/cdc_224994_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 170.82 KB ]