Exposure
Technical measurements of neck strain
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The technical measurements include:

  • Angular velocity
  • Flexion
  • Extension

Whole day inclinometric measurements were performed using triaxial accelerometers. The inclinometers were placed on the forehead and upper back. Neck movements and positions were characterised by the absolute median angular velocity (°/s) and 1st and 90th percentile of flexion/extension.

The neck’s contribution to the movements and positions was calculated by subtraction of upper back measurements from head measurements. Duration of measurements (excluding breaks) ranged from 3.1 to 6.9 hours.

For each job title, the mean of the median angular velocity and 1st and 90th percentile of flexion/extension was used as the final value in the JEM.

Name: NECK

 

Coverage
29 different job titles based on DISCO-88 (eg, dentists, hairdressers, childcare, carpenters).

Job Classification

The Danish version of The International Standard Classification of Occupations (DISCO-88)

Calendar Period
The JEM is based on a chort covering the periode 1981 to 2016.
Uncertainty in Exposure

Misclassification possible; residual confounding expected to be small based on sensitivity analyses.

Demographics
Measurements were carried out in Denmark and Sweden.
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References & JEM developer
Key Developer: Esben Meulengracht Flachs

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Affiliation at the time of development: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2200 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.

Reference:Prospective, population-based study of occupational movements and postures of the neck as risk factors for cervical disc herniation

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Petersen, J. A., Brauer, C., Thygesen, L. C., Flachs, E. M., Lund, C. B., & Thomsen, J. F. (2022). Prospective, population-based study of occupational movements and postures of the neck as risk factors for cervical disc herniation. BMJ Open, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-053999.

Inspiration from research projects on physical workload in DOC*X

Within DOC*X, several research projects investigate the relationship between physical workload and health, including research using the Neck JEM as an exposure measure.

Among these studies is registry-based research examining the association between cervical disc herniation and increasing cumulative angular velocity, flexion, or extension of the neck.

These is just one example of the research conducted within the DOC*X framework. Here you can find more information on other research projects using DOC*X data.