Precarious Work and its Association With Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review
Received: 8 July 2025 | Revised: 6 August 2025 and 20 August 2025 | Accepted: 22 August 2025 | Online: 5 February 2026
Corresponding author: Paras Behrani
Abstract
The present study investigated the impact of dangerous work on Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) by examining the 2010 to 2024 literature from four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsyclINFO. These studies followed quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method designs, evaluating MSD results in relation with employment security, income inadequacy, and lack of rights and protections, as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Of the 6,051 records identified, 11 studies met the pre-defined selection criteria. The results indicated an elevated risk of lower back pain, neck and shoulder strain, and repetitive strain injuries among workers, showing that precarious employment is associated with an increased risk of MSDs. However, the dependence on cross-sectional approaches limits the study's rigid conclusions.
Keywords:
precarious work, musculoskeletal disorders, systematic review, social determinant of healthDownloads
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