Musculoskeletal problems were common among older hospital cleaners
A review found substantial prevalence across studies and several associated workplace and personal factors, without establishing causes or testing which prevention measures work.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Musculoskeletal disorders were common in studies of older hospital cleaners, but prevalence varied across the reviewed populations. Work demands, rest, stress, posture and organizational conditions were among the factors linked with these problems. The review identifies concerns for occupational health research; it does not establish which factor caused the disorders or which prevention measure works.
The abstract does not supply participant totals, shared diagnostic definitions or the periods used to measure prevalence. These omissions limit comparisons across studies and prevent a clear estimate for any particular workplace.
What researchers found
Musculoskeletal disorder prevalence
Range across age-stratified studies of hospital cleaners aged 50+; no comparator or common prevalence timeframe is reported. This is not a pooled estimate.
How the evidence was gathered
Reviewers searched research databases, independently screened studies and assessed study quality. They extracted information on participants, prevalence and possible risk factors to describe the evidence available for older hospital cleaning workers.
What the range describes
The percentages describe how common musculoskeletal disorders were within the included study populations. They do not measure new cases arising over a shared follow-up period or quantify how much a particular workplace factor changes risk.
The original publication
Musculoskeletal disorders among older hospital cleaners: a systematic review of prevalence and risk factors.
Zhou W, Gu K, Chen Y
Front Public Health · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41368673
- Record checked
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