Is shoulder posture during work related to neck and shoulder symptoms among cleaners?

Abstract Introduction: Cleaning workers perform tasks that may be related to the development of shoulder and neck symptoms. Objective: To analyze the correlation between shoulder elevation during work and the presence of neck and shoulder symptoms in cleaning workers. Methods: Symptoms were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Shoulder elevation was recorded during work using triaxial inclinometers. Data were analyzed descriptively and via point-biserial corre-lation analysis. Results: The study included 22 women, most of whom were outsourced (73%), with an average age of 44 years (SD = 11.2), working an average of nine hours per day. Shoulder elevation at work was associated with the presence of shoulder symptoms (rpb = 0.51 and rpb = 0.45 for the 50th and 10th percentiles, respectively) and the percentage of time spent with the shoulder elevated above 30° (rpb = 0.47). No association was found between shoulder elevation and neck symptoms. Conclusion: The results highlight the need to reduce shoulder elevation in cleaning workers to manage musculoskeletal symptoms in the shoulder.