Table 1 Baseline characteristics of participants by workload levels

Age (years), mean (SD)

33 (5.8)

42.4 (12.6)

30 (0)

39.9 (11.9)

Gender, female n (%)

2 (40.0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

5 (20.8)

BMI (kg/m ² ), mean (SD)

22.6 (3.1)

27.6 (6.9)

26.9 (0)

26.6 (6.4)

Ethnicity

  Caucasian

1 (20.0)

11 (61.1)

1 (100)

13 (54.2)

  Asian

3 (60.0)

6 (33.3)

0 (0)

9 (37.5)

  Other

1 (20.0)

1 (5.6)

0 (0)

2 (8.3)

Education

  High school or less

0 (0)

10 (55.5)

0 (0)

10 (41.7)

  Apprenticeship/vocational school

0 (0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

3 (12.5)

  University degree or higher

5 (100)

5 (27.8)

1 (100)

11 (45.8)

Living status

  House

0 (0)

11 (61.1)

0 (0)

11 (45.8)

  Apartment

5 (100)

7 (38.9)

1 (100)

13 (54.2)

Relationship status

  Single

1 (20.0)

5 (27.8)

1 (100)

7 (29.2)

  Married/living with a partner

4 (80.0)

12 (66.7)

0 (0)

16 (66.7)

  Not disclosed

0 (0)

1 (5.5)

0 (0)

1 (4.2)

Annual income (Australian dollars)

  <$50,000

1 (20.0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

4 (16.7)

  $50,000–$99,999

1 (20.0)

10 (55.5)

0 (0)

11 (45.8)

  >$99,999

2 (40.0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

5 (20.8)

  Not disclosed

1 (20.0)

2 (11.1)

1 (100)

4 (16.7)

Employment status

  Corporate/government employee

2 (40.0)

11 (61.1)

0 (0)

13 (54.2)

  Contractor or self-employed

0 (0)

4 (22.2)

1 (100)

5 (20.8)

  Others

3 (60.0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

6 (25.0)

Weekly working hours, mean (SD)

42.5 (5.3)

43.4 (7.3)

35.0 (0)

42.9 (6.9)

Years working in current job, mean (SD)

2.1 (0.91)

11.2 (11.3)

0.5 (0)

8.9 (10.6)

Age started working (years), mean (SD)

25.8 (1.9)

18.7 (4.0)

29 (0)

20.6 (4.9)

Exercises during workday, yes ^≠

1 (20.0)

3 (16.7)

0 (0)

4 (16.7)

Previous joint injury at work, yes

0 (0)

4 (22.2)

0 (0)

4 (16.7)

How would you classify your level of physical demand in your current job?

Sedentary¹

5 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

5 (20.8)

Light to moderate²

0 (0)

14 (77.8)

1 (100)

15 (62.5)

Intensive³

0 (0)

4 (22.2)

0 (0)

4 (16.7)