This study investigates associations of an adverse psychosocial work environment with musculoskeletal pain among German police officers in special forces. Analyses are based on a survey of 480 officers in special police forces (mainly special assignments and mobile units). An adverse psychosocial work environment is measured by the effort-reward imbalance model that identifies "high effort/low reward" working conditions. Musculoskeletal pain is assessed by means of a validated questionnaire (12 months and 7 days prevalence). Analyses confirm that police work is a stressful occupation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicates a twofold risk for neck, back and hip pain among police officers defined by an imbalance of high effort and low reward at work after adjustment for age, gender, socio-economic status, and physical work load.
