Characteristics of Work-related Musculoskeletal Diseases in Re-employed People after Retirement Age

Objective: This study aims to identify trends and characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among individuals aged 60 and older who have been re-employed immediately after retirement.<br/>Background: The incidence of musculoskeletal diseases among workers aged 60 or older has been rapidly increasing recently and accounts for 36.22% of all work-related MSDs in 2022.<br/>Method: This study sampled 2,000 workers aged 60 or older who received approvals for work-related MSDs over a two-year period from 2022 to 2023. Survey items include date of accident, age, period from re-employment at age 60 to date of accident, injuries and body parts, main occupation after age 60, total job history, and number of approved work-related MSDs before age 60.<br/>Results: 1) Of the 2,000 people surveyed, 18.20% were approved as work-related MSDs within one year after turning 60, and 48.30% were approved within five years. 2) Among the body parts where work-related MSDs occur in people who are reemployed after the age of 60, shoulders, lumbar spine, and knees account for 80.04%. 3) Among those who were reemployed after retirement at age 60, only 9% had suffered from MSDs before age 60. In other words, the proportion of those who suffered from MSDs for the first time after reemployment at age 60 or older was 91.00%.<br/>Conclusion: In the case of elderly workers over 60 years of age, 48.30% of all work-related MSDs occur within the first 5 years, so a MSDs prevention policy that takes this fact into account is necessary.<br/>Application: This study can be used as basic data for establishing a MSDs prevention policy for elderly workers over 60 years of age.