Women performing repetitive work: Is there a difference in the prevalence of shoulder pain and pathology in supermarket cashiers compared to the general female population?

Abstract

Objectives: Shoulder disorders in the occupational environment have been widely studied, but the quality of research and methodology applied vary. Little has been done to ascertain whether shoulder pain in female repetitive workers is due to any verifiable pathology, or to compare findings with the general population. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported shoulder pain in a group of female supermarket cashiers and in the general female population using a standardized questionnaire. Shoulder pain prevalence was then compared to imaging findings in order to assess specific and non-specific pain prevalence. Material and Methods: 196 cashiers and 302 controls filled in a standardized shoulder questionnaire and underwent an imaging examination of a shoulder. Results: The prevalence of shoulder pain was significantly higher in the group of cashiers (46.4%) than in the general population (25.5%) (OR = 1.821; 95% CI: 1.426-2.325). Specific pain prevalence was higher among the controls (19.5%) than among the cashiers (13.2%). Conclusions: The more frequent reports of shoulder pain in the supermarket cashiers are not correlated with a higher prevalence of imaging abnormalities. The causes of these more frequent complaints should be probably sought in the psycho-social and occupational environment.

The importance of work organization on workload and musculoskeletal health – Grocery store work as a model

“…Most studies concerning work in grocery stores have focused on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among cashiers (Rissén et al, 2002;Bonfiglioli et al, 2007;di Pedre et al, 2011;Kihlstedt and Hägg, 2011;Sansone et al, 2014). Only a few have studied other work tasks in grocery stores (Forcier et al, 2008).…”

“…This may seem surprising, since cashier work is regarded as strenuous, with a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (Bonfiglioli et al, 2007;Barbieri et al, 2013: Sansone et al, 2014, and indeed, the OR for neck/shoulders complaints was 1.7 for cashier work but 1.0 for picking work when compared to mixed work. However, one characteristic aspect of cashier work is the restricted work pattern,…”

Shoulder disorders and occupation

“…These include: female gender [46], obesity [47] older age [48] and co-existing medical disorders (eg inflammatory arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus) [49]. There is growing evidence for a role of individual psychological factors (such as distress and depression) in the development of shoulder pain [50,51].…”

“…One recently-published study compared female supermarket cashiers (undertaking repetitive work) with the general female working-age population (this comprised customers at the supermarket) [48]. Participants completed a questionnaire about pain in the shoulder which was administered by an orthopaedic specialist, and then underwent ultrasound assessment of both shoulders.…”

Emotion Work and Musculoskeletal Pain in Supermarket Cashiers: A Test of a Sleep-Mediation Model

“…A higher risk of bladder cancer is hypothesized to result from lifestyle and fewer opportunities for micturition, prolonging the contact time between the bladder mucosa and any urinary carcinogens that might be present (Colt et al, 2004). However, the majority of research on the occupational health of cashiers has addressed musculoskeletal pain, especially complaints about pain in the upper extremities, shoulders, and back that are supposed to result from biomechanical load from repetitive work (Bonfiglioli et al, 2007;Peppoloni et al, 2016;Sansone et al, 2014;Sansone et al, 2015). Among occupational health problems, musculoskeletal pain in arms, shoulders, knees, legs, and especially in the back is common among workers in many occupations.…”