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Table 4 Reported occupational tasks and activities as causes or aggravating factors for musculoskeletal complaints in specific body regions among bricklayers and supervisors participating in a baseline and follow-up survey

From: Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-up study

Activity

Body region no 1

Body region no 2

Body region no 3

Standing

Bricklayers

Foot

Lower leg/ankle

Upper leg

Construction supervisors

Upper leg

Hip

Back

Walking across the construction site

Bricklayers

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Construction supervisors

Upper leg

Lower leg/ankle

Knee

Kneeling and stooping

Bricklayers

Knee

Upper leg

Lower leg/ankle

Construction supervisors

Knee

Upper leg

Hip

Working with a bent back

Bricklayers

Back

Hip

Upper leg

Construction supervisors

Back

Upper leg

Hip

Carrying and lifting

Bricklayers

Back

Upper leg

Elbow

Construction supervisors

Lower arm/wrist

Back

Upper leg

Repetitive arm -hand movements

Bricklayers

Elbow

Lower arm/wrist

Shoulder/upper arm

Construction supervisors

Elbow

Lower arm/wrist

Hand

Working above shoulder height

Bricklayers

Shoulder/upper arm

Neck

Elbow

Construction supervisors

Shoulder/upper arm

Neck

Lower arm/wrist

Working with vibrating hand tools

Bricklayers

Elbow

Hand

Shoulder/upper arm

Construction supervisors

Hand

Lower arm/wrist

Back

Climbing ladder/scaffold

Bricklayers

Upper leg

Lower leg/ankle

Foot

Construction supervisors

Upper leg

Knee

Lower leg/ankle

Driving vehicles

Bricklayers

Lower leg/ankle

Foot

Hand

Construction supervisors

Neck

Back

Hip

  1. n.a. not applicable, bricklayers were not asked about the activity ‘walking’.
  2. The top-three body regions for every activity are presented.