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A study was undertaken to assess the back, neck, and shoulder pains experienced by occupational truck drivers and to determine the effect of job satisfaction and stress on driver work loss. Groups of truck drivers, bus drivers, and sedentary workers (controls) from the USA and Sweden were enrolled in this study. Questionnaires covering musculoskeletal health, occupational history, social status, living habits, and work environment were given to all subjects. Driving vibration levels were measured to assess truck and bus driving conditions. Data were subjected to Duncan Multiple Range and Student's t-tests, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analysis. Truck and bus drivers reported higher incidence of lower back and shoulder pain than did sedentary workers. Vibration exposure and frequent lifting were found to be associated with a higher risk of low back pain. American bus drivers reported higher incidences of neck pain than any other group. Swedish workers from all three work categories reported higher levels of work satisfaction than Americans. Truck drivers from both countries reported higher levels of job satisfaction than workers in the other work categories. The authors conclude that occupational truck drivers suffer increased incidences of back, neck, and shoulder pain, and that occupational stress interferes with drivers' ability to work.
Spine, 21(6):710-717, 1996. (61 references)
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