Text

Introduction: Agricultural work in Korea often involves awkward postures and heavy lifting, which are significant risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, research on this issue remains limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of body region-specific musculoskeletal workload among Korean farmers and to evaluate its association with clinical findings in the corresponding anatomical sites.

Methods: MSDs were assessed by physicians through site-specific history taking, physical examination, and plain radiography. Based on these assessments, clinicians classified each anatomical site as either having abnormal findings or not. Musculoskeletal workload was evaluated using the “physical workload score” developed by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). This score was calculated as: Perceived discomfort level × annual exposure days × average daily exposure time. Discomfort was weighted as: slightly uncomfortable (0.5), moderately uncomfortable (1.0), and very uncomfortable (1.5). Daily exposure time was scored as follows: <2 hours (1 point), 2–<4 hours (2 points), 4–<6 hours (3 points), 6–<8 hours (4 points), and ≥8 hours (5 points). A total score below 250 indicated a low musculoskeletal burden, while a score ≥250 was classified as a significant musculoskeletal burden. Anatomical sites assessed included the shoulder, hand/wrist, knee, and lower back. Participants were recruited from a rural population using convenience sampling. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess independent associations, adjusting for sex, age, educational level, smoking, and alcohol consumption. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 927 farmers participated in the study. The proportion of participants with high musculoskeletal workload was as follows: lower back (63.7%; 60.3% in men, 67.9% in women), hand/wrist (63.1%; 59.3% in men, 67.9% in women), shoulder (60.6%; 59.8% in men, 62.0% in women), and knee (53.6%; 44.2% in men, 65.4% in women). Significant independent associations were found between high workload and abnormal clinical findings for the shoulder (OR = 2.524, 95% CI: 1.346–4.732, p < 0.001), hand/wrist (OR = 2.612, 95% CI: 1.454–4.692, p < 0.001), and lower back (OR = 3.445, 95% CI: 1.770–6.703, p < 0.001). No significant association was found for the knee (OR = 1.470, 95% CI: 0.823–2.627, p = 0.193).

Conclusion: Higher physical workload in farming tasks was associated with an increased prevalence of abnormal clinical findings in the corresponding musculoskeletal regions. These findings highlight the need for ergonomic interventions and improvements in the agricultural working environment to mitigate musculoskeletal burden and reduce the incidence of MSDs among farmers.