Association between home office ergonomics and musculoskeletal pain

Remote work practices have been adopted by companies for years, providing knowledge-based workers the flexibility to work from home. Adverse musculoskeletal health outcomes as a consequence of exposure to ergonomic risk factors during remote computer-based office work have been previously observed. Prior research on the relationship between the ergonomics of home-based computer work and musculoskeletal pain, however, has included individuals who actively chose to work remotely, perhaps with both time and resources to optimize the ergonomics of the home work environment. However, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic working from home became a sudden requirement for which those affected had no reasonable time to prepare new accommodating work arrangements. The association between home office ergonomics of those required to work from home and musculoskeletal pain outcomes has not been explored extensively. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between home office ergonomics and reported musculoskeletal pain of remote workers during the COVID-19 era. Among 2,511 University of Iowa employees/faculty, responses to an emailed survey were used to estimate i) associations between computer configurations and office configurations on reported musculoskeletal pain (low back, neck/shoulder, and elbow/wrist/hand) and ii) explore changes in the home office environment (adjustments) in relation to self-reported musculoskeletal pain.

The results of this study suggest having an adjustable office chair, the ability to support the arms, as well as the ability to stand while working is associated with experiencing less musculoskeletal pain in comparison to not having any of these features. Also, all office configurations that included an adjustable chair when compared to those that did not, were associated with decreased odds of reporting low back pain. All office configurations that included the ability to support the arms when compared to those that did not, were associated with decreased odds of reporting neck/shoulder and elbow/wrist/hand pain.

Further, the results of our study suggest making adjustments to the home office environment was associated with increased odds of reporting neck/shoulder and distal upper extremity pain compared to those who chose not to make any office modifications. Specifically, those who made <4 adjustments (i.e., new computer, additional display monitor, new chair, new desk) were over twice as likely to report pain. Individuals reporting no pain at baseline (wave 1), were nearly twice as likely to report distal upper extremity pain at follow-up (wave 2) (elbow/wrist/hand) after making home office adjustments compared to those not making any adjustments. For those reporting pain at baseline, the results suggest they had decreased odds of reporting elbow/wrist/hand pain during follow-up after making home office adjustments compared to those not making any adjustments.

The observed estimates are consistent with previous literature, and the association between home office ergonomics and reported musculoskeletal pain provides a foundation for simplifying employers’ recommendations regarding ergonomics for remote employees. Our approach to assess home office ergonomics in this research was both simple and grounded in epidemiological evidence which contrasts with the majority of guidelines (how to) disseminated to workers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.