Scand J Work Environ Health 2004;30(4):261-278 pdf
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.794 | Issue date: Aug 2004
Gender differences in the relations between work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints
Gender differences in the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints might be explained by differences in the effect of exposure to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors. A systematic review was conducted to examine gender differences in the relations between these risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints. Several electronic databases were searched. The strength of the evidence was determined on the basis of the methodological quality and consistency of the study results. For lifting, strong evidence was found that men have a higher risk of back complaints than women. The same was found for the relation between hand-arm vibration and neck-shoulder complaints. For arm posture, strong evidence was found that women have a higher risk of neck-shoulder complaints than men. For social support, no evidence of a gender difference was found for either neck-shoulder or back complaints. For hand-wrist and lower-extremity complaints, inconclusive evidence was found due to a lack of high-quality studies.
Key terms back; gender; gender difference; literature study; lower extremity; musculoskeletal complaint; neck; occupational risk factor; physical load; physical risk factor; psychosocial load; psychosocial risk factor; review; sex factor; systematic review; upper extremity; work