Work-related musculoskeletal complaints by women in a social rehabilitation center

Considering work-related complaints as a public health problem, the current study aimed to analyze the frequency of musculoskeletal complaints and the association between their occurrence and severity and anthropometric and work variables. The sample included 146 women from a social rehabilitation center who answered a validated questionnaire with anthropometric data and history of work-related musculoskeletal complaints. The Goodman test was used to analyze the association between and within variables. We observed a high rate of complaints after beginning work activity (94.19%). Subjects that required sick leave showed higher mean age and weight. The most severe complaints related to back pain. Sick leave was more common among women who had worked longer. The study concluded that there was a high frequency of work-related complaints and an association between: higher weight and height values and severity; higher age and sick leave; more serious complaints and back pain; and longer time on the job and need for sick leave.