Objective To describe the characteristics and occupational relationships of multisite work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among male workers in automobile manufacturing industry.
Methods A combined cross-sectional and retrospective survey was conducted among 1 494 male workers in automobile manufacturing industry. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to assess the prevalence, body sites, and risks of WMSDs.
Results The positive rate of WMSDs was 28.51%, mainly in low back/waist, neck, shoulder, wrist, and leg. The positive rate of multisite WMSDs was 18.53%, and the positive rates of WMSDs in 2 and≥5 body sites were statistically different among the male workers in different workshops (P < 0.05). The WMSDs risks (OR values) were different for age and work length in the stratified analysis of nine variables (age, height, weight, body mass index, educational level, physical exercise, smoking, drinking, and work length) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), showing a rising trend with the increase of either two indicators. Workers with high school education were more likely to have WMSDs in 3 and≥5 body sites than those with university education (P < 0.05). The dominant body sites with WMSDs were different for workers in different workshops:low back/waist, neck, and shoulder for those in stamping workshop; neck, low back/waist, wrist, and shoulder for those in welding workshop; neck, shank, ankle, shoulder, and low back/waist for those in resin workshop; low back/waist and neck for those in painting workshop; and low back/waist, neck, shoulder, and wrist for those in assembly workshop. As for WMSDs that occurred in two body sites at the same time, neck and low back/waist were the dominant body sites for those in stamping workshop; neck and others except low back/waist, low back/waist and others except neck, shoulder, and wrist, as well as wrist and others except low back/waist for those in assembly workshop; wrist and others except low back/waist, shoulder and others except low back/waist for those in welding workshop; shoulder and shank for those in resin workshop.
Conclusion WMSDs among the auto manufacture workers mainly occur in low back/waist, neck, shoulder, wrist, and shank, and lesion body sites of workers with WMSDs vary by workshops. The highest positive rate of WMSDs among the assembly, stamping, and painting workers is for low back/waist, and the highest rate among the welding and resin workers is for neck. The prevalence of multisite WMSDs may be associated with the type of work activities. The risk of multisite WMSDs has a rising tendency with higher age and work length. The workers with high school education are more likely to have multisite WMSDs than those with university degree.
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