Prevalence of shoulder pain and its correlates in Jeju agricultural population: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain and analyze its association with socio-demographic factors, agricultural work-related conditions, and biomechanical factors among farmers on Jeju Island. We utilized initial survey data from the Safety for Agricultural Injury of Farmers’ cohort study involving adult farmers on Jeju Island. The presence and characteristics of shoulder pain, socio-demographics, agricultural work-related conditions, and biomechanical factors were assessed using semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 1206 participants were analyzed for prevalence and associated risk factors using frequency and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The overall prevalence of shoulder pain was 17%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for significant socio-demographic and agricultural work-related condition variables, revealed that stress level, type of farming, and experiencing an agricultural injury within the preceding year were significantly associated with shoulder pain (stress level: “occasional,” adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.581; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.079–2.318; “frequent,” aOR, 1.964; 95% CI, 1.205–3.200; and “extreme,” aOR, 2.999; 95% CI, 1.480–6.074 vs “rarely”; type of farming: “orchard,” aOR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.597–1.124; “livestock,” aOR, 0.225; 95% CI, 0.079–0.641 vs “field”; and experienced an agricultural injury within the past year: “yes,” aOR, 2.078; 95% CI, 1.269–3.405). In addition, 3 biomechanical factors significantly contributed to shoulder pain: activities requiring significant power such as shoveling, pickaxing, and hammering; repetitive use of a particular body part; and constant elevation of the arm above the head. The findings highlight the importance of postural education, injury prevention, and psychological support in managing shoulder pain among farmers.