Association Between Abrupt Change to Teleworking and Physical Symptoms During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Emergency Declaration in Japan.

Objective: We investigated the association between telework frequency and the presence of non-COVID-19-related physical symptoms during the COVID-19 emergency declaration among workers in Japan.
Methods: Data were collected from 1648 workers via web-based self-reported questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between telework frequency per week (0, 1-2, 3-4, and ≥5 days/week) and the presence of stiff shoulders, eyestrain, and low back pain.
Results: Among 917 participants, telework frequency was significantly associated with stiff shoulders (≥5 days: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-7.06), eyestrain (≥5 days: aOR 5.31, 95% CI 2.09-13.44), and low back pain (≥5 days: aOR 5.57, 95% CI 2.22-14.00), compared with non-teleworkers.
Conclusions: Workers who abruptly began telework experienced more physical symptoms than non-teleworkers during the emergency declaration.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: Dr Nagata is an advisor of BackTech Inc., and BackTech Inc. has invested in an endowed course at University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan. However, Dr Nagata does not receive any reward from BackTech Inc. in this study. Mr Tezuka is an intern at Backtech Inc. and is engaged in management support work for medical professionals. However, Mr Masato does not receive any financial assistance for this writing. Tezuka, Nagata, Saeki, Tsuboi, and Fukutani have no relationships/conditions/circumstances that present potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2021 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)