In this article we present and discuss the results of investigations that took place at the Ambulatório de Doenças do Trabalho (Occupational Medicine Ambulatory) in the Hospital de Clínicas of Porto Alegre (University Hospital). The main purpose was to determine the relationship between Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, the work process and the consequences over the mental and physical health of the studied workers. We conclude that mental suffering is associated to physical pain, but not exclusively. Beyond the physiopathological aspects of the illness, we perceive the existence of a complex relationship between physical pain and the subjective experiences and social identity.
work-related musculoskeletal disorders; repetitive strain injuries; worker's health; mental suffering