Associations between occupational physical activity and the long term risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms were examined. A total of 3,902 post office pensioners, 2,389 males, born between 1919 and 1923, participated in the study. They completed a questionnaire to provide a complete occupational history and to report whether an average working day for each job held involved performing strenuous activities, to rate musculoskeletal pain that lasted more than 1 day during the past month, and to describe any surgery for a joint or back problem. Delivering mail on foot or on a cycle and being employed as a postal officer or other clerical or administrative worker were the two most frequently reported occupations. Being employed as a mail delivery person was significantly associated with regular stair climbing and heavy lifting, being reported by 30 and 28% of the respondents, respectively. These activities were reported by only 4 and 6% of the clerical workers, respectively. Musculoskeletal symptoms were reported by a significant proportion of the subjects, varying from hip pain or stiffness being reported by 19.9% of the males to knee pain or stiffness reported by 50% of the females. Musculoskeletal symptoms at all sites were reported more frequently by females than males. Thirty nine subjects had had a knee replacement and 98% a hip replacement. Obesity was significantly associated with knee pain or stiffness. Twenty or more years of heavy lifting was significantly associated with hip pain and prolonged working with arms elevated above shoulder level was significantly associated with shoulder pain. Among males, tall stature and heavy lifting were significantly associated with low back pain. The authors conclude that musculoskeletal problems produced by heavy occupational physical activity can be detected many years after cessation of exposure (retirement).

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