The work retirement due to RSI/WMSD: impact on mental health

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate about worker´s retirement of work-related musculoskeletal disorder -WRMSD and discuss about repercussions on mental health from subject´s subjective perceptions. The study is exploratory and descriptive study with qualitative data. There were selected retired workers affected by musculoskeletal disorders, which were attended in stage activities next to the course of Occupational Therapy of the Federal University of São Paulo, in 2009. There was elaborated a script and realized partially opened interviews about perceptions of how was the work, how he or she got sick, situations and difficulties related to the work and nowadays. Participated in this study five (5) subjects, both sex, age in between 36 and 52 years old. It was verified waste and suffering next to organizational aspects, presence of pain during work, symptoms and illness invisibility, functional difficulties in daily activities, and others. The study promotes some reflections about the worker´s illness and retirement processes and repercussions on mental health.