Ryu Hoje, Cho Seong-Sik, Kim Jung Il, Choi Sun-Haeng, Kim Nathan
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Ann Occup Environ Med. 2025;37:e4. doi: 10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e4. Epub 2025 Feb 19.
Commuting is essential for working life; however, prolonged travel times can negatively affect health, particularly musculoskeletal pain. This study aims to examine the relationship between commuting time and musculoskeletal pain (back, upper extremity, and lower extremity pain), in the context of working time.
This cross-sectional study used data from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in Korea between October 2020 and April 2021. Variables such as commuting time, weekly working hours, and shift work were assessed using the survey questions. Musculoskeletal pain was determined based on self-reported pains in the previous year. The covariates included demographics, employment status, ergonomic risks, and job stress. The association between commuting time and musculoskeletal pain stratified by weekly working hours or shift work was analyzed by survey-weighted logistic regression analysis.
This study found a significant association between longer commuting times and increased prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly back, upper extremity, and lower extremity pain. When commuting time was ≤60, 61-120, >120 minutes, the odds ratio was 1.00, 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.52), and 2.41 (95% CI: 1.77-3.29) for back pain; 1.00, 1.29 (95% CI: 1.13-1.46), and 2.27 (95% CI: 1.71-3.00) for upper extremity pain; and 1.00, 1.24 (95% CI: 1.05-1.45), and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.13-2.08) for lower extremity pain, respectively. Furthermore, except for upper extremity pain, this trend was amplified when participants were concurrently exposed to long working hours, and for lower extremity pain, this trend was aggravated among shift workers.
Long commuting time may be a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain, and its' effects could be aggravated when combined with long working hours or shift work. This study observed the detrimental impact of prolonged commuting on musculoskeletal health, particularly among employees with extended working hours or shift work.
通勤是工作生活的必要组成部分；然而，长时间的通勤时间会对健康产生负面影响，尤其是肌肉骨骼疼痛。本研究旨在探讨在工作时间背景下，通勤时间与肌肉骨骼疼痛（背部、上肢和下肢疼痛）之间的关系。
这项横断面研究使用了2020年10月至2021年4月在韩国进行的第六次韩国工作条件调查的数据。通勤时间、每周工作小时数和轮班工作等变量通过调查问卷进行评估。肌肉骨骼疼痛根据前一年的自我报告疼痛情况确定。协变量包括人口统计学特征、就业状况、工效学风险和工作压力。通过调查加权逻辑回归分析，分析了按每周工作小时数或轮班工作分层的通勤时间与肌肉骨骼疼痛之间的关联。
本研究发现，较长的通勤时间与肌肉骨骼疼痛患病率增加之间存在显著关联，尤其是背部、上肢和下肢疼痛。当通勤时间≤60分钟、61 - 120分钟、>120分钟时，背部疼痛的优势比分别为1.00、1.33（95%置信区间[CI]：1.16 - 1.52）和2.41（95%CI：1.77 - 3.29）；上肢疼痛的优势比分别为1.00、1.29（95%CI：1.13 - 1.46）和2.27（95%CI：1.71 - 3.00）；下肢疼痛的优势比分别为1.00、1.24（95%CI：1.05 - 1.45）和1.53（95%CI：1.13 - 2.08）。此外，除上肢疼痛外，当参与者同时面临长时间工作时，这种趋势会加剧；对于下肢疼痛，在轮班工人中这种趋势会更严重。
长时间通勤可能是肌肉骨骼疼痛的一个风险因素，当与长时间工作或轮班工作相结合时，其影响可能会加剧。本研究观察到长时间通勤对肌肉骨骼健康的有害影响，尤其是在工作时间延长或从事轮班工作的员工中。
