Association of knee pain with working position and other factors among dairy farmers: A study in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Dairy farmers have been shown to have a high risk of knee pain. The squatting position when milking a cow can create awkward knee posture and high compression at the knee joint. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of knee pain among dairy farmers and determine the association of knee pain with squatting position and other factors among dairy farmers in West Java. This cross-sectional study included 117 participants from West Java, Indonesia between May 2017 and June 2017. The participants filled a standardized interview form as well as the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire. Working position was observed. An association was found between knee pain and the squatting position. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with knee pain were a working period of 6-10 years and a working period of >10 years. The study found that the prevalence of knee pain among dairy farmers was 88%. Our findings suggest that there is a relation between knee pain and the squatting work position. The primary risk factor for knee pain is a working period of 6 years and above.