Do men and women have different musculoskeletal symptoms at the same musculoskeletal discomfort level?

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Ozeas Ferreira da
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Silva, Jonhatan Magno Norte da, Silva, Lara Karine Dias, Lima, Tânia M., Bornia, Antonio Cezar, Souza, Larissa Ane Hora de, Leite, Wilza Karla dos Santos, Vieira, Elamara Marama de Araujo
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.6/14170
• topic: Gender; Musculoskeletal disorders; Discomfort scale; Equalization; Footwear industry

Owing to biological and social factors, illness-related musculoskeletal symptoms tend to vary between men and women. However, in the past, conceptualised discomfort metrics were applied uniformly to both genders. This study aimed to develop a scale to measure musculoskeletal discomfort that compares the symptoms between men and women. The scale aimed to determine the gender-based response patterns related to symptoms. A total of 707 men and 1302 women reported their symptoms on a body map. Factor analysis and item response theory were used to differentiate the identified symptoms in the construction of a musculoskeletal discomfort scale. Differences in work exposure appeared to explain the symptom patterns between men and women. The scale had eight levels, and it was found that at the same level of discomfort, men and women reported symptoms in different body regions.