This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported knee discomfort among office workers in a metropolitan city in China and to identify associated impact factors.
This was a cross-sectional designed study, and conducted at a medical center in a metropolitan city, China. There were 1930 participants, aged from 22-62 years included. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect their demographic information, daily dietary and sleeping behavior, work-related physical and psychosocial factors, knee symptoms and the treatment history. The nature, intensity, as well as the onset time and duration of knee symptoms were recorded. SPSS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis, and the significant difference level was set as P 0.05.
Among the 1930 office workers, 1163 participants reported without knee symptoms, and 767 participants reported knee symptoms. In this population, the prevalence of knee discomfort was 39.7%. Comparing the demographic information, daily dietary and sleeping behavior, work-related physical and psychosocial variables between participants with knee symptoms and without symptoms, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fast blood glucose, sleeping hours, office work years were significant difference (P 0.05). Among the 767 knee-discomfort participants, 257 reported that didn’t receive any treatment, 156 received massage therapy, 128 received external medication therapy, 94 received thermotherapy, 85 received rehabilitation therapy, 51 received oral medication therapy, and only 9 have received surgery treatment.
The prevalence of self-reported knee discomfort among office workers is high. Higher weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fast blood glucose, office working years and less sleeping duration may affect the knee self-reported symptoms. The symptomatic participants prefer to receive massage therapy.
This large cross-sectional study suggests that the incidence of knee discomfort is high in Chinese office population. Reasonable control of body weight, fasting blood glucose, waist circumference, as well as reducing sedentary time and maintaining good quality sleep may play a positive role in the prevention of knee discomfort.
prevalence
office worker
