Workstyle and upper-extremity symptoms: A biobehavioral perspective

Objectives: Workstyle has been proposed to help explain the link between ergonomic and psychosocial factors in work-related upper-extremity symptoms/disorders. This study investigated ergonomic factors, work demands, job stress, and workstyle on pain and functional limitations in computer users. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine participants completed self-report ratings of job stress, ergonomic exposures, and workstyle at baseline. Three months, later ratings of pain and functional limitations were obtained. Results: Multivariable logistic regression indicated that ergonomic exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-5.5), time spent at a computer (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 0.95-3.6), and higher scores on a workstyle measure (2.4, 95% CI = 1.1-5.3) were independently associated with case status. Path analyses revealed that a model that included ergonomic exposure, work demands, and workstyle predicted pain and functional limitations at 3 months. Conclusions: Workstyle contributes to case definition and is predictive of future pain and functional limitations in office workers with upper extremity symptoms.