Risk factors for persistent elbow, forearm and hand pain among computer workers

Lassen, Christina Funch; Mikkelsen, Sigurd; Kryger, Ann Isabel; Andersen, Jacob Buus

doi:10.5271/sjweh.859

Cited by 49 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Repetitive strains, bruising and lacerations were reported as the most common types of injury which is also consistent with previous studies (Dufort et al, 1997;Lassen et al, 2005;Taylor et al, 2004). Most repetitive strain injuries can be prevented by adequate health promotion and injury prevention strategies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…It is suggested that a valid approach to the measurement of LBP be designed so that occupational physiotherapists can systematically document the outcome of the clinical interventions applied and compare these results against any significant changes of future interventions (Bardin, 2002) The upper limb and spine/trunk accounted for permanent injuries. The upper limbs are consistently reported as the most vulnerable site for permanent injuries (Lassen et al, 2005;Mell et al, 2005) due to the functional role they frequently play in manipulative skills. As such, it is likely that serious injury does develop as a result of accidents and cumulative trauma or other factors leading to serious or permanent injury.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Injury profile of employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company: a retrospective study

Chetty

Jelsma

Maart

2007

South African Journal of Physiotherapy

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury profile of employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company: a retrospective study

Chetty

Jelsma

Maart

2007

South African Journal of Physiotherapy

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“…Anthropometric measures such as differences in shoulder width and hand size have also been proposed as possible factors increasing the ris for women (Karlqvist et al, 1998;Tittiranonda et al, 1999). One study of risk factors among computer users indicated that pain in other body regions was a predictor of persistent arm pain (Lassen et al, 2005). Moreover, constitutional o acquired vulnerability (biological or psychological) as well as socioeconomic factors may have an impact on the risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms/disorders in connection with computer work (Cole and Rivilis, 2004 In a cross-sectional study, work style was identified as a possible risk factor for n (Feuerstein et al, 1997).…”

Section: Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S computer work and neck/upper extremity symptoms or disorders Cook et al, 2000;Jensen et al, 1998;Karlqvist et al, 2002), and several recent longitudinal studies have supported these cross-sectional findings (Gerr et al, 20 Jensen, 2003;Juul-Kristensen et al, 2004;. However, another longitudinal study concluded that the duration of computer use did not influence the prognosis of persistent pain in the arm or hand region of the subje (Lassen et al, 2005). Moreover, it concluded that self-reported exposures associated with time spent using the mouse and the keyboard could predict pain or symptoms of the elbow/wrist/hand for low-level exposure, but could not predict clinical conditions verified through medical examinations (Lassen et al, 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…A prospective study of forearm pain in computer users concluded that high demands and time pressure at work were risk factors for developing forearm pain, and found that women had a higher risk of developing such symptoms (Kryger et al, 2003). Another study has indicated that time pressure may have a negative impact on the prognosis of severe pain of the elbow-forearm and wrist-arm in computer users (Lassen et al, 2005). In addition, recently published data from a longitudinal study have shown that computer users who reported job strain wer more prone to develop neck-shoulder symptoms compared to those who did not report these conditions (Hannan et al, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concordance between VDU-users’ ratings of comfort and perceived exertion with experts’ observations of workplace layout and working postures

Lindegård

Karlberg

Tornqvist³

et al. 2005

Applied Ergonomics

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All previously published papers have been reproduced with permission from the publisher.Published and printed by Intellecta DocuSys AB, Göteborg, Sweden, 2007 © Agneta Lindegård Andersson, 2007 ISBN 978-91-628-7098-0 Working technique during computer work Associations with biomechanical and psychological strain, neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms Agneta Lindegård AnderssonThe Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Institute of Medicine Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Occupational and Environmental Medicine AbstractAbout 35 % of the working population in Sweden report that computer use accounts for 50% or more of their total working hours. Among this population approximately 40% of the women and 25% of the men experienced symptoms in the neck and/or upper extremities at least once a week during the preceding 3 month. The overall aim of the studies underlying this thesis was to explore possible associations between working technique and perceived exertion, comfort, biomechanical and psychosocial strain as well as neck and upper extremity symptoms among computer users. Specific research questions addressed were a) Whether working technique was associated with muscle activity, wrist positions and forces applied to the computer mouse, respectively? b) Whether working technique was associated with psychological demands, emotional stress and perceived muscle tension, respectively? c) Whether there were associations between self-rated perceived comfort and observations of workplace layout and between self-rated perceived exertion and working postures. d) Whether working technique perceived exertion and comfort was associated with neck and upper extremity symptoms.The results showed that subjects classified as having a good working technique worked with less muscular load in the forearm (p=0.03) and in the trapezius muscle on the mouse operating side (p=0.02) compared to subjects classified as having a poor working technique. Subjects who reported high psychological demands and perceived muscular tension, respectively, used poorer working technique than subjects who did not perceive this conditions (demands, p=0.03, muscular tension, p=0.02). Moreover, the concordance between ratings of comfort and observations of workplace layout was reasonably good concerning the working chair and the keyboard and good regarding the computer screen and the input device. The concordance between ratings of perceived exertion and observations of working postures indicated good agreement for all measured body locations. This applies to the group that rated poor comfort and high exertion. Regarding the group that rated good comfort and low exertion ratings must be supplemented with observations. Furthermore, the results revealed that high perceived exertion and low comfort were related to an increased incidence of neck, and upper extremity symptoms, while poor working technique was not associated with such a risk. It is concluded that working technique is associated with both biomechanical and p...

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Risk factors for more severe regional musculoskeletal symptoms: A two‐year prospective study of a general working population

Andersen¹,

Haahr²,

Frost³

2007

Arthritis & Rheumatism

417

311

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Objective. To quantify the relative contribution of work-related physical and psychosocial factors, individual factors, and health-related factors to the development of more severe musculoskeletal pain in the neck and upper limbs and the back and lower limbs.Methods. In this cohort study of 5,604 workers from industrial and service companies, we collected information on work-related physical and psychosocial exposures and on individual and health-related factors. Questionnaires were completed at baseline by 4,006 participants (71.5%) and after 24 months by 3,276 (82%). At followup, participants with no or minor pain were included in Cox regression analyses to determine which factors predicted more severe regional pain.Results. Of the 4,006 baseline respondents, only 7.7% were free of regional pain. A total of 1,513 participants were free of severe pain at baseline and completed the 24-month followup. Highly repetitive work predicted arm pain, heavy lifting and prolonged standing predicted low back pain, and heavy pushing or pulling predicted lower limb pain. Low job satisfaction predicted neck/shoulder pain and lower limb pain, whereas other psychosocial work place factors were only of marginal importance. High levels of fear avoidance were associated with arm pain and lower limb pain. A high body mass index was highly associated with lower limb pain.Conclusion. Very few workers are totally free of pain in musculoskeletal regions, and we question the concept of incidence of musculoskeletal pain. The transition from no or minor pain to more severe pain was influenced by physical and psychosocial work place factors together with individual and health-related factors.Regional musculoskeletal pain is common in working populations and in the general population (1-4). Within the last 30 years, much effort has been put into research to identify risk factors for primary prevention, first by focusing on physical hazards in the work place (e.g., heavy lifting, awkward postures, repetitive movements) and second by also introducing psychosocial work place factors (e.g., job demands, job control, social support, and job satisfaction). Many risk factors have been identified in various studies, but no great success has been seen in intervention studies (5,6). It looks as if regional musculoskeletal pain problems are here to stay, and are perhaps a ubiquitous part of modern working life (7,8).It has recently been proposed in a European guideline on back pain that the general nature and course of commonly experienced low back pain means that there is limited scope for preventing its incidence, and that prevention should be focused on reduction of the impact and consequences of back pain (ref. 9 and www.backpaineurope.org). This message could possibly be extended to other regional pain, such as arm pain, neck/shoulder pain, and lower limb pain.The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of work-related factors and individual and healthrelated factors on the onset of more severe musculoskelSupported by grants from the D...

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Risk factors for persistent elbow, forearm and hand pain among computer workers

Abstract: The following article refers to this text: 2008;34(2):81-164

Cited by 49 publications

References 21 publications

Injury profile of employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company: a retrospective study

Injury profile of employees at a specific beverage manufacturing company: a retrospective study

Concordance between VDU-users’ ratings of comfort and perceived exertion with experts’ observations of workplace layout and working postures

Risk factors for more severe regional musculoskeletal symptoms: A two‐year prospective study of a general working population

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