Musculoskeletal disorders and housework in Italy

The housework exposes to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, which may appear as disabling diseases, both temporary and permanent ones. To evaluate the epidemiology of the phenomenon a retrospective survey was conducted by administering a mail questionnaire to a sample of 1,000 families residing in the whole national territory. The participation rate was 31.7%. Among respondents 20.5% reported spinal pain, 65.6% of them with continuous pains (41.4% assumed pain-killer drugs). 37.0% of the interviewed persons reported to disorders in upper limbs. It was analysed the association between the presence of disorders and the frequency in making some housework duties. Washing clothes (OR=1.8; C.I. 95%: 0.6-4.5), making beds (OR=1.5; C.I. 95%: 0.2-13.1), and taking care of pets (OR=1.4; C.I. 95%: 0.6-3.4) were associated, even if not in a statistically significant way, with the presence of spinal pain. Upper limbs disorders were associated with duties naturally related to such a disorder, like washing dishes (OR=4.6; C.I. 95%: 1.3-16.5), cleaning clothes (OR=3.1; C.I. 95%: 1.3-7.0), cleaning up carpets (OR=2.3; C.I. 95%: 1.3-3.9). To assist the relatives in state of need was identified as risk factor for both the body areas (OR=2.9; C.I. 95%: 1.2-6.7 for the spine, OR=2.6; C.I. 95%: 1.3-5.2 for upper limbs), putting in evidence the physical stress attributable to the duty. The exact identification of the typology of housework which can induce musculoskeletal disorders, and the level of related risks, are essential information to devise campaigns and protocols of health education aimed at the prevention of chronic pathologies caused by the housework.