75% of Swedish firefighters experience chronic musculoskeletal disorders
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The understanding of career firefighters' chronic musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) has been sparse. Therefore, a survey was sent to firefighters across Sweden and available online between February and March 2023.
The survey aimed to investigate if bodily pain from different areas was common, how much disability it possibly caused, and if any differences among firefighters during 2022.
The results showed that 75% of the 255 (28 women, 227 men) including firefighters experienced some type of chronic MSD. When asked about the most common body areas experienced chronic MSD, the lumbar spine (40%), shoulders (31%), and knees (21%) were most affected.
On the question, of how much disability this pain caused, most reported low disability. For example, 80% did only have 0-6 days of sick leave during 2022 because of their MSD. However, firefighters who were not eligible for smoke diving did experience higher disability and pain intensity compared to smoke divers.
When analyzing differences among the responding firefighters, women experienced pain in their hands and wrists more frequently compared to men.
Whereas men and higher-aged (>39) firefighters had similar reports from their shoulders. Also, men reported an overall higher occurrence of chronic MSD compared to women.
This study is the first to examine chronic MSD among Swedish career firefighters, which makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions. Despite this, other studies, both in Finnish firefighters and Spanish wild-land firefighters, have shown similar results. It highlights the importance of identifying MSD early, especially from the lumbar spine, shoulders, and knees. In addition, to assess non-smoke divers' higher pain intensity and disability, for example during their yearly medical examination.
Since there has been sparingly research on the subject, further studies should focus on validating the high occurrence of MSD with a larger sample size, also, to identifying risk factors for sustaining MSDs among career firefighters.
This study was part of the Master of Naprapathy Program at the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK). The study was commissioned by Nätverket Kvinnor inom Räddningstjänsten (KIRtj.se) and BRF, Brandmännens Riksförbund (Brandfacket.se).
For contact and further details about the study, please contact:
David Havia , D.N.
Supervisors:
Anita Näslindh-Ylispangar, Principal Lecturer.
Petteri Koski, D.N.
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Free U.S. Government Image
Marissa Halbeisen, foreground, part of the Hot Shot firefighter crew from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., helps cut and clear a fire line in the Mount St. Francis area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012, while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon.
The Waldo Canyon fire, which started June 23, 2012, burned several hundred homes and forced large-scale evacuations in Colorado Springs and at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock, U.S. Air Force/Released). Original public domain image from Flickr