The longitudinal association between working from home and musculoskeletal pain during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: This study investigates the associations between working from home and the presence of MSP during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home often involves a lot of sedentary computer screen work and the home working environment might not be optimally equipped, which can lead to health problems, including musculoskeletal pain (MSP). Methods: Longitudinal data from 16 questionnaire rounds of the Lifelines COVID-19 cohort during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-February 2021) were used. In total, 40,702 Dutch workers were included. In every round, participants reported whether they worked on location, from home, or hybrid. Logistic Generalized Estimating Equations were used to study the association of work situation with the presence of MSP and the presence of severe MSP. Results: Working from home was associated with higher risks of having MSP in the lower back (OR: 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.08), in the upper back (OR: 1.24, 95% CI 1.18–1.31), and in the neck, shoulder(s) and/or arm(s) (OR: 1.18, 95% CI 1.13–1.22). Hybrid working was associated with higher risks of having pain in the upper back (OR: 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.17) and in the neck, shoulder(s) and/or arm(s) (OR: 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.20). Both home and hybrid workers had higher risks of severe MSP in the different body areas. Conclusion: Home workers, and to a smaller extent hybrid workers, had higher risks of having MSP than location workers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate the importance of measures to prevent MSP in future policies involving working from home.