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The Prevalence and Distribution of Physical Complaints Among Desk Job Workers: A Scientific Review

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 52 - 63, 30.06.2025

Abstract

Desk jobs are rapidly increasing in the modern workforce, with significant implications for physical health. This study examines the prevalence of desk jobs globally and in Turkey, the rate of physical complaints reported by employees, and the distribution of these complaints across the body. Through literature review and current statistical data, musculoskeletal problems concentrated in the neck, lower back, upper back, shoulders, and wrists are highlighted. The role of demographic factors and working conditions is discussed, along with practical solutions.

Ethical Statement

Since this is a review study, ethics committee approval was not required.

Supporting Institution

This study was not supported by any funding or institutional support

References

  • Acar, F., & Armutlu, K. (2020). Türkiye'de mesleklerin toplumsal itibarı üzerine bir değerlendirme. Sosyoloji Dergisi, 40(2), 155–173.
  • Andersen, J. H., Haahr, J. P., & Frost, P. (2011). Risk factors for more severe regional musculoskeletal symptoms: A two-year prospective study of a general working population. Arthritis Care & Research, 63(9), 1280–1287. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20492
  • Autor, D. H. (2015). Why are there still so many jobs? The history and future of workplace automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3–30.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational employment and wage statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
  • Cagnie, B., Danneels, L., Van Tiggelen, D., De Loose, V., & Cambier, D. (2007). Individual and work related risk factors for neck pain among office workers: A cross sectional study. European Spine Journal, 16(5), 679–686.
  • Chakrabarty, S., Gupta, V., & Kulhara, P. (2022). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in Southeast Asia: A cross-sectional study. Occupational Medicine, 72(1), 22–28.
  • Church, T. S., Thomas, D. M., Tudor-Locke, C., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Earnest, C. P., Rodarte, R. Q., Martin, C. K., Blair, S. N., & Bouchard, C. (2011). Trends over 5 decades in U.S. occupation-related physical activity and their associations with obesity. PLoS One, 6(5), e19657.
  • Claus, A. P., Hides, J. A., Moseley, G. L., & Hodges, P. W. (2015). Sitting versus standing: Does the intradiscal pressure cause disc degeneration or low back pain? Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 25(5), 731–736.
  • de Kok, J., Vroonhof, P., Snijders, J., Roullis, G., Clarke, M., Peereboom, K., & van Dorst, M. (2018). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Prevalence, costs and demographics in the EU. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
  • Eurostat. (2020). Employed persons working from home as a percentage of the total employment. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
  • Gül, M., & Öztürk, M. (2020). Büro çalışanlarında kas-iskelet sistemi yakınmaları ve ilişkili faktörler. Türkiye Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi, 66(4), 401–407.
  • Janwantanakul, P., Pensri, P., Jiamjarasrangsri, W., & Sinsongsook, T. (2008). Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among office workers. Occupational Medicine, 58(6), 436–438.
  • Kara, M., & Demir, Ü. (2021). Ofis çalışanlarında kas-iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıklarının değerlendirilmesi. Ergoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi, 9(2), 87–95.
  • Kniffin, K. M., Narayanan, J., Anseel, F., Antonakis, J., Ashford, S. P., Bakker, A. B., ... & van Vugt, M. (2021). COVID-19 and the workplace: Implications, issues, and insights for future research and action. American Psychologist, 76(1), 63–77.
  • Levin, K. A. (2006). Study design III: Cross-sectional studies. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 7(1), 24–25.
  • Oakman, J., & Kinsman, N. (2018). A multi-level approach to understanding the impact of workplace factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Applied Ergonomics, 68, 328–336.
  • Parry, S., & Straker, L. (2013). The contribution of office work to sedentary behaviour associated risk. BMC Public Health, 13, 296.
  • Pew Research Center. (2025). What the data says about federal workers. https://www.pewresearch.org/
  • Srivastav, A. K., Basu, S., & Patil, R. R. (2022). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among various occupational workers in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 26(2), 77–86.
  • TÜİK. (2024). İşgücü İstatistikleri, 2024. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/
  • Visual Capitalist. (2022). Visualizing the American workforce as 100 people. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/american-workforce-100-people/ Wilmot, E. G., Edwardson, C. L., Achana, F. A., Davies, M. J., Gorely, T., Gray, L. J., ... & Biddle, S. J. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55, 2895–2905.

Masa Başı İşlerde Çalışanların Oranı, Fiziksel Şikayetlerin Yaygınlığı ve Vücuttaki Dağılımı: Bilimsel Bir İnceleme

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 52 - 63, 30.06.2025

Abstract

Masa başı işler, modern iş gücünde hızla artmakta olup, çalışanların fiziksel sağlığı üzerinde önemli etkiler doğurmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, hem küresel ölçekte hem de Türkiye bağlamında masa başı işlerin yaygınlığı, bu işlerde çalışan bireylerin yaşadığı fiziksel şikayetlerin oranı ve bu şikayetlerin vücut üzerindeki dağılımı incelenmiştir. Literatür taraması ve güncel istatistikî veriler ışığında, özellikle boyun, bel, sırt, omuz ve el bileklerinde yoğunlaşan kas-iskelet sistemi problemleri vurgulanmıştır. Demografik faktörler ve çalışma koşullarının bu şikayetlerdeki rolü ele alınmış, çözüm önerileri sunulmuştur.

Ethical Statement

Derleme çalışması olması nedeniyle etik kurul onayı bulunmamaktadır

Supporting Institution

Destekleyen kurum bulunmamaktadır

References

  • Acar, F., & Armutlu, K. (2020). Türkiye'de mesleklerin toplumsal itibarı üzerine bir değerlendirme. Sosyoloji Dergisi, 40(2), 155–173.
  • Andersen, J. H., Haahr, J. P., & Frost, P. (2011). Risk factors for more severe regional musculoskeletal symptoms: A two-year prospective study of a general working population. Arthritis Care & Research, 63(9), 1280–1287. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.20492
  • Autor, D. H. (2015). Why are there still so many jobs? The history and future of workplace automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3–30.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational employment and wage statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
  • Cagnie, B., Danneels, L., Van Tiggelen, D., De Loose, V., & Cambier, D. (2007). Individual and work related risk factors for neck pain among office workers: A cross sectional study. European Spine Journal, 16(5), 679–686.
  • Chakrabarty, S., Gupta, V., & Kulhara, P. (2022). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office workers in Southeast Asia: A cross-sectional study. Occupational Medicine, 72(1), 22–28.
  • Church, T. S., Thomas, D. M., Tudor-Locke, C., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Earnest, C. P., Rodarte, R. Q., Martin, C. K., Blair, S. N., & Bouchard, C. (2011). Trends over 5 decades in U.S. occupation-related physical activity and their associations with obesity. PLoS One, 6(5), e19657.
  • Claus, A. P., Hides, J. A., Moseley, G. L., & Hodges, P. W. (2015). Sitting versus standing: Does the intradiscal pressure cause disc degeneration or low back pain? Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 25(5), 731–736.
  • de Kok, J., Vroonhof, P., Snijders, J., Roullis, G., Clarke, M., Peereboom, K., & van Dorst, M. (2018). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: Prevalence, costs and demographics in the EU. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
  • Eurostat. (2020). Employed persons working from home as a percentage of the total employment. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
  • Gül, M., & Öztürk, M. (2020). Büro çalışanlarında kas-iskelet sistemi yakınmaları ve ilişkili faktörler. Türkiye Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi, 66(4), 401–407.
  • Janwantanakul, P., Pensri, P., Jiamjarasrangsri, W., & Sinsongsook, T. (2008). Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among office workers. Occupational Medicine, 58(6), 436–438.
  • Kara, M., & Demir, Ü. (2021). Ofis çalışanlarında kas-iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıklarının değerlendirilmesi. Ergoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Dergisi, 9(2), 87–95.
  • Kniffin, K. M., Narayanan, J., Anseel, F., Antonakis, J., Ashford, S. P., Bakker, A. B., ... & van Vugt, M. (2021). COVID-19 and the workplace: Implications, issues, and insights for future research and action. American Psychologist, 76(1), 63–77.
  • Levin, K. A. (2006). Study design III: Cross-sectional studies. Evidence-Based Dentistry, 7(1), 24–25.
  • Oakman, J., & Kinsman, N. (2018). A multi-level approach to understanding the impact of workplace factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Applied Ergonomics, 68, 328–336.
  • Parry, S., & Straker, L. (2013). The contribution of office work to sedentary behaviour associated risk. BMC Public Health, 13, 296.
  • Pew Research Center. (2025). What the data says about federal workers. https://www.pewresearch.org/
  • Srivastav, A. K., Basu, S., & Patil, R. R. (2022). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among various occupational workers in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 26(2), 77–86.
  • TÜİK. (2024). İşgücü İstatistikleri, 2024. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu. https://data.tuik.gov.tr/
  • Visual Capitalist. (2022). Visualizing the American workforce as 100 people. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/american-workforce-100-people/ Wilmot, E. G., Edwardson, C. L., Achana, F. A., Davies, M. J., Gorely, T., Gray, L. J., ... & Biddle, S. J. (2012). Sedentary time in adults and the association with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetologia, 55, 2895–2905.
There are 21 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Health Services and Systems (Other)
Journal Section Derleme
Authors

Ömer Faruk Güney 0009-0006-8756-7203

Safa Heybet 0000-0002-9263-1613

Publication Date June 30, 2025
Submission Date May 2, 2025
Acceptance Date June 30, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Güney, Ö. F., & Heybet, S. (2025). Masa Başı İşlerde Çalışanların Oranı, Fiziksel Şikayetlerin Yaygınlığı ve Vücuttaki Dağılımı: Bilimsel Bir İnceleme. Biruni Sağlık Ve Eğitim Bilimleri Dergisi, 8(1), 52-63.