Work Disability and Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Teleworkers: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal J Occup Rehabil

Publisher Springer

Specialties Occupational Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2024 Mar 28

PMID 38546953

Authors

Quan Nha Hong

Jingjing Li

Marietta Kersale

Eloi Dieterlen

Adrian Mares

Zeinab Ahmadian Sangkar

Virginie Paquet

Valerie Lederer

Marie Laberge

Marie-France Coutu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: This project aimed to examine the existing evidence on work disability or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among teleworkers.

Method: A scoping review was conducted in eight bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, ABI/Inform Global, EBM Reviews, Web of Science, Dissertations & Theses Global) from inception to June 2022.

Results: Out of 9192 records identified, a total of 79 selected articles representing 77 studies were retained. Most studies were published after 2019, aligning with the COVID-19 pandemic's telework surge. Among the included papers, 51 addressed MSDs among teleworkers, 17 were on work disability, and 11 addressed both concepts. The studies were predominantly cross-sectional. Some trends are emerging, although study results are contradictory. Several papers reported increased musculoskeletal discomfort among teleworkers. Factors associated with MSDs among teleworkers include poor workstation setup, extended workdays, sedentary lifestyle, excessive devices use, and psychological factors. Regarding work disability, studies found that telework is associated with reduced absenteeism but increased presenteeism, with employees more likely to work while unwell from home than when on-site. Mixed results were found regarding teleworkers' work ability and functioning.

Conclusion: This paper provides an overview of the literature on work disability and MSDs among teleworkers. It identifies literature gaps, underlining the need for ergonomic improvements, long-term impact studies, a better conceptualization of presenteeism in the context of telework, and tailored interventions to enhance the telework experience.

Citing Articles

A digital intervention to reduce home-office workers' sedentary behaviour: protocol for the evaluation of the Click2Move programme, a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Bort-Roig J, Pares-Salomon I, Loef B, Vaque-Crusellas C, Coffey A, Gustems-Morral A BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):387.

PMID: 39885479 PMC: 11783833. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21598-7.

Female teleworkers with pain have the highest presenteeism, where its primary contributing variable was not those of musculoskeletal disability.

Takasaki H Ind Health. 2024; 63(1):71-83.

PMID: 39098046 PMC: 11779516. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2024-0068.

References

Kniffin K, Narayanan J, Anseel F, Antonakis J, Ashford S, Bakker A . COVID-19 and the workplace: Implications, issues, and insights for future research and action. Am Psychol. 2020; 76(1):63-77. DOI: 10.1037/amp0000716. View

de Macedo T, Cabral E, Castro W, de Souza Junior C, da Costa Junior J, Pedrosa F . Ergonomics and telework: A systematic review. Work. 2020; 66(4):777-788. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203224. View

Robertson M, Schleifer L, Huang Y . Examining the macroergonomics and safety factors among teleworkers: development of a conceptual model. Work. 2012; 41 Suppl 1:2611-5. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1029-2611. View

Bouziri H, Smith D, Descatha A, Dab W, Jean K . Working from home in the time of COVID-19: how to best preserve occupational health?. Occup Environ Med. 2020; 77(7):509-510. PMC: 7231547. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106599. View

Cruz-Ausejo L, Copez-Lonzoy A, Vilela-Estrada A, Valverde J, Bohorquez M, Moscoso-Porras M . Can working at home be a hazard? Ergonomic factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among teleworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022; 29(4):1335-1344. DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2022.2127246. View

Fadel M, Bodin J, Cros F, Descatha A, Roquelaure Y . Teleworking and Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(6). PMC: 10049341. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064973. View

Cieza A, Causey K, Kamenov K, Wulf Hanson S, Chatterji S, Vos T . Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020; 396(10267):2006-2017. PMC: 7811204. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32340-0. View

Ekberg K, Pransky G, Besen E, Fassier J, Feuerstein M, Munir F . New Business Structures Creating Organizational Opportunities and Challenges for Work Disability Prevention. J Occup Rehabil. 2016; 26(4):480-489. PMC: 5104761. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-016-9671-0. View

Peters M, Marnie C, Tricco A, Pollock D, Munn Z, Alexander L . Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evid Synth. 2020; 18(10):2119-2126. DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-20-00167. View

10.

McKeown S, Mir Z . Considerations for conducting systematic reviews: evaluating the performance of different methods for de-duplicating references. Syst Rev. 2021; 10(1):38. PMC: 7827976. DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01583-y. View

11.

Lederer V, Loisel P, Rivard M, Champagne F . Exploring the diversity of conceptualizations of work (dis)ability: a scoping review of published definitions. J Occup Rehabil. 2013; 24(2):242-67. DOI: 10.1007/s10926-013-9459-4. View

12.

Lucas P, Baird J, Arai L, Law C, Roberts H . Worked examples of alternative methods for the synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2007; 7:4. PMC: 1783856. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-7-4. View

13.

Steidelmuller C, Meyer S, Muller G . Home-Based Telework and Presenteeism Across Europe. J Occup Environ Med. 2020; 62(12):998-1005. PMC: 7720871. DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001992. View

14.

Bailly F, Genevay S, Foltz V, Bohm-Sigrand A, Zagala A, Nizard J . Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on low back pain intensity in chronic low back pain patients: results of the multicenter CONFI-LOMB study. Eur Spine J. 2021; 31(1):159-166. PMC: 8488322. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-021-07007-8. View

15.

Miranda-Schaeubinger M, Schwartz E, Sze R, Larsen E . A Pilot Program of Virtual Ergonomics Consults for Radiology Staff Working From Home. J Am Coll Radiol. 2021; 18(12):1643-1645. PMC: 8597397. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2021.08.016. View

16.

Almhdawi K, Obeidat D, Kanaan S, Hajela N, Bsoul M, Arabiat A . University professors' mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and distance teaching. Work. 2021; 69(4):1153-1161. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205276. View

17.

Argus M, Paasuke M . Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on musculoskeletal pain, physical activity, and work environment in Estonian office workers transitioning to working from home. Work. 2021; 69(3):741-749. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210033. View

18.

de Oliveira T, Muzeka A, Batista E, Dos Santos G, Rocha L, Legey A . Worker health impacts from working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work. 2022; 72(1):9-17. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210553. View

19.

Gerding T, Syck M, Daniel D, Naylor J, Kotowski S, Gillespie G . An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Work. 2021; 68(4):981-992. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205294. View

20.

Kotowski S, Davis K, Gerding T . Almost a year in: Virtual offices remained an ergonomic trouble spot. Work. 2022; 71(2):319-326. DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211052. View