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open access

Vol 70, No 2 (2019)
Original article
Submitted: 2019-04-01
Accepted: 2019-04-29
Published online: 2019-06-25
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Musculoskeletal complaints among professional divers

Fride Flatmo1, Marit Grønning23, Ågot Irgens2
DOI: 10.5603/IMH.2019.0017
·
Pubmed: 31237670
·
IMH 2019;70(2):107-112.
Affiliations
  1. Ålesund Hospital, Ålesund, Norway
  2. Department of Occupational Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
  3. Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway

open access

Vol 70, No 2 (2019)
MARITIME/OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2019-04-01
Accepted: 2019-04-29
Published online: 2019-06-25

Abstract

Background: Previous publications have indicated a high risk of musculoskeletal complaints among professional divers. This study aims to investigate which factors influence professional divers’ risk of musculoskeletal complaints.

Materials and methods: Based on data gathered from a postal questionnaire sent to Norwegian inshore divers in 2011, the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, strain injuries and joint pain among divers with different certification levels, work-related tasks and decompression sickness (DCS) experiences were analysed. 

Results: The risk of musculoskeletal complaints, strain injuries and joint pain was significantly higher among divers working in the quay/construction industry versus divers not working in this industry, and among divers who had experienced DCS. Likewise, a higher risk was found among divers doing construction, inspection, pipelaying, blasting and welding, other physically demanding work, and working with vibrating and/or rotating tools. Having experienced tingling and/or numbness in fingers after working with vibrating and/or rotating tools or having sick leave due to tendonitis, periosteum inflammation, stretch injuries or sprains caused by diving also increased the risk. 

Conclusions: Professional divers working in the quay/construction industry, divers doing tasks with heavy physical demands and divers having experienced DCS are at a higher risk of musculoskeletal complaints than other professional divers. 

Abstract

Background: Previous publications have indicated a high risk of musculoskeletal complaints among professional divers. This study aims to investigate which factors influence professional divers’ risk of musculoskeletal complaints.

Materials and methods: Based on data gathered from a postal questionnaire sent to Norwegian inshore divers in 2011, the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints, strain injuries and joint pain among divers with different certification levels, work-related tasks and decompression sickness (DCS) experiences were analysed. 

Results: The risk of musculoskeletal complaints, strain injuries and joint pain was significantly higher among divers working in the quay/construction industry versus divers not working in this industry, and among divers who had experienced DCS. Likewise, a higher risk was found among divers doing construction, inspection, pipelaying, blasting and welding, other physically demanding work, and working with vibrating and/or rotating tools. Having experienced tingling and/or numbness in fingers after working with vibrating and/or rotating tools or having sick leave due to tendonitis, periosteum inflammation, stretch injuries or sprains caused by diving also increased the risk. 

Conclusions: Professional divers working in the quay/construction industry, divers doing tasks with heavy physical demands and divers having experienced DCS are at a higher risk of musculoskeletal complaints than other professional divers. 

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Keywords

demanding work; diving; joint pain; musculoskeletal complaints

About this article
Title

Musculoskeletal complaints among professional divers

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 70, No 2 (2019)

Article type

Original article

Pages

107-112

Published online

2019-06-25

Page views

2288

Article views/downloads

1219

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2019.0017

Pubmed

31237670

Bibliographic record

IMH 2019;70(2):107-112.

Keywords

demanding work
diving
joint pain
musculoskeletal complaints

Authors

Fride Flatmo
Marit Grønning
Ågot Irgens

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