Musculoskeletal symptoms in tree planters in Ontario, Canada

Tree planting is extremely physical, seasonal, repetitive work with high risk for musculoskeletal injuries. Objectives: (1) To assess musculoskeletal symptoms in tree planters as they develop over the course of the planting season. (2) To investigate the effect of pre-season level of physical activity on development of musculoskeletal symptoms. Participants: 132 tree planters from two reforestation camps participated in the study. Methods: Three questionnaires were completed prior to the first work day of the planting season. Questionnaires included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, a body map to report areas of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS questionnaire), and a series of questions about planter demographics. A subset of study participants (n = 14) also completed the MSS questionnaire each work shift during the planting season. Musculoskeletal symptoms in each area of the body were compared pre-and-post season using a paired t-test on data from the MSS questionnaire. Results and conclusions: Areas of the body with the greatest amount of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort were the feet, wrists and back, whereas areas with the highest frequency of reported pain were the upper, middle and lower back. Musculoskeletal symptoms worsened significantly over the course of the work season. Pre-season level of physical activity could not be correlated with development of musculoskeletal symptoms.