Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers in North Carolina

Abstract

Background This manuscript evaluates the variability in the prevalence of epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, low back pain, and lower extremity pathology among immigrant Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Methods Data were collected from a study among 272 farmworkers and non-farmworkers. Participants were recruited in eastern and central North Carolina. A physical exam was conducted by trained physicians. Results Prevalence of MSDs among Latino manual workers is high compared other workers in similar occupations. Non-farmworkers (49%) had a higher prevalence of MSDs than farmworkers (35%). Epicondylitis (20.2%) and rotator cuff syndrome (19.1%) were most prevalent. Age was found to be significant among those who had epicondylitis (AOR = 1.04) and lower extremity pathology (AOR = 1.07). Conclusions Latino immigrant manual workers have high prevalence of MSDs. Further studies are needed to identify possible factors that make these populations more vulnerable to MSDs.

Musculoskeletal pain, depression, and stress among Latino manual laborers in North Carolina

“…6,7 The PACE4 study, using clinical data, has shown Latino farmworkers to have a lower prevalence of specific musculoskeletal disorders (epicondylitis, rotator cuff syndrome, lower extremity pathology) than other manual workers. 54 Compared to Latino poultry processing workers, 19,55 the PACE4 participants have comparable neck and shoulder pain prevalence (17.1% PACE4 vs 16.2%), comparable back pain prevalence (22.1% PACE4 vs 20.4%), lower hand and wrist pain prevalence (15.7% PACE4 vs 48.9%), and lower leg pain prevalence (15.7% vs 23.0%). The lower prevalence among PACE4 participants for hand and leg pain reflects the repetitive tugging and cutting motion, as well as the extensive standing, required of poultry processing workers.…”

Ergonomic Evaluation of Current Advancements in Blueberry Harvesting

“…For the semi-mechanical harvesting method, a long-handled, pneumatically-operated olive harvester (Campagnola, Bologna, Italy) was used to harvest blueberries from a platform on a modified over-the-row harvester (Model 7240, Oxbo International, Lynden, WA, USA). The olive harvester (10) consisted of a 1.2-m-long aluminum tube with a grip in the mid-section and the trigger handle grip at the end. At the other end of the tube, an attachment consisting of an air motor/piston housing to which two reciprocally moving heads with four 20-cm-long plastic tines were mounted.…”

Common Upper Extremity Disorders and Function Affect Upper Extremity-Related Quality of Life: A Community-Based Sample from Rural Areas

“…We found that the prevalence of epicondylitis in the dominant arm was 33.7%, which is outside the range of 3.5–20.2% reported in the literature. 35 36 Our study included 692 agricultural workers, representing 70.11% of total participants. In other studies, the prevalence of epicondylitis was higher in agricultural workers than in factory workers.…”

“…In other studies, the prevalence of epicondylitis was higher in agricultural workers than in factory workers. 35 36 This suggests that the agricultural work environment induces epicondylitis to a greater extent than a factory work environment. In the current study, the prevalence of rotator cuff tear in the dominant arm was 53.4% (partial thickness rotator cuff tear: 44.4%, full thickness rotator cuff tear: 9.0%), also higher than the 4.7–22.1% reported in the literature.…”