Musculoskeletal pain conditions and sedentary behaviour in occupational and non-occupational settings: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Creators: name: Dzakpasu, Francis Q. S.
name: Carver, Alison
name: Brakenridge, Christian J.
name: Cicuttini, Flavia
name: Urquhart, Donna M.
name: Owen, Neville
name: Dunstan, David W.
Publisher: name: The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada
Year: 2022

description: Background: Sedentary behaviour (SB; time spent sitting) is associated with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) conditions; however, no prior systematic review has examined these associations according to SB domains. Purpose: We synthesised evidence on occupational and non-occupational SB and MSP conditions. Methods: Guided by a PRISMA protocol, eight databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and AMED) and three grey literature sources (Google Scholar, WorldChat, and Trove) were searched (January 1, 2000, to March 17, 2021) for original quantitative studies of adults ≥18 years. Clinical-condition studies were excluded. For meta-analyses, random effect inverse-variance pooled effect size was estimated; otherwise, best-evidence synthesis was used for narrative review. Results: Of 178 potentially-eligible studies, 79 were included [24 general population; 55 occupational (incuding15 experimental/intervention)]; 56 studies were of high quality, with scores &gt;0.75. Data for 26 were meta-synthesised. For cross-sectional studies of non-occupational SB, meta-analysis showed full-day SB to be associated with low back pain [OR = 1.19 (1.03 – 1.38)]. Narrative synthesis found full-day SB associations with knee pain, arthritis, and general MSP, but the evidence was inconsistent on associations with neck/shoulder pain, hip pain, and upper extremities pain. Evidence of prospective associations of full-day SB with MSP was insufficient and was inconsistent on cross-sectional and prospective associations with leisure-time SB. For occupational SB, cross-sectional studies meta-analysed indicated associations of self-reported workplace sitting with low back pain (OR = 1.47 (1.12 – 1.92) and neck/shoulder pain (OR = 1.73 (1.46 – 2.03). Best-evidence synthesis identified inconsistent findings on cross-sectional association and a negative prospective association of device-measured workplace sitting with low back pain intensity in tradespeople. Evidence on computer time and neck/shoulder pain was moderate but insufficient for low back pain and general MSP. Experimental/intervention evidence indicated reduced low back pain, neck/shoulder pain, and general MSP with reducing workplace sitting. Conclusions: We found cross-sectional associations of occupational and non-occupational SB with MSP conditions, with occupational SB associations being occupation dependent. While prospective evidence was inconclusive, reducing workplace sitting was associated with reduced MSP. Future studies should emphasise prospective analyses and examining potential interactions with chronic diseases.
description: The Health &amp; Fitness Journal of Canada, Vol. 14 No. 3 (2021): Proceedings from the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health Congress