Association between pain intensity in the neck and components of a workstation: A cross-sectional study on Japanese office workers

This study aimed to investigate the association between inappropriate workstation components and neck pain intensity. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 309 Japanese office workers. Workstation questionnaires were developed based on previous studies and consisted of 11 items that assessed the armrest, monitor screen, desk, and keyboard. For each of the 11 items, we defined whether the item was “inadequate” based on previous studies. Neck pain experienced was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS) of 0–10, and the NRS scores were categorized into three (0: “no pain,” 1–3: “low pain intensity,” and 4–10: “high pain intensity”). Crude and adjusted ordered logistic regressions were used to determine the association between the inadequate workstation and neck pain intensity. In the first analysis model, each item of the workstation questionnaire was used as an explanatory variable. Then, in the second analysis model, the number of inadequate workstation components was used as the explanatory variable. Ordered logistic regression analyses showed that the distance of the eye to the monitor was significantly associated with neck pain intensity (crude, OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.41–3.19; adjusted, OR: 1.79; 95%CI: 1.08–2.50). The number of inadequate workstation components had a significant positive association with neck pain intensity (crude, OR: 1.19, 95%CI: 1.04–1.34; adjusted, OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.00–1.32). The results of this study suggest that the distance between the eye and the monitor might be the most important workstation factor contributing to neck pain, and workstation components should be assessed collectively. •Investigation of the association between several components of a workstation and neck pain in office workers.•All workstation items on the questionnaire were based on the findings of previous studies.•Inadequate distance from the eye to the monitor was associated with neck pain intensity.•The number of inadequate components of a workstation was associated with neck pain intensity.