The occurrence of musculoskeletal alterations in worker populations not exposed to repetitive tasks of the upper limbs

Abstract

A total of 749 workers (males: 139 aged between 15 and 35 years, and 171 aged > 35 years; females: 176 aged between 15 and 35 years, and 263 aged > 35 years) performing tasks not at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs (WMSDs) underwent a clinical examination using a standardized method. The 'anamnestic cases' were defined on the basis of pain or paraesthesia present for at least 1 week during the previous 12 months, or appearing at least once a month, and not subsequent to acute trauma. The anamnestic cases among the males amounted to 4.4% (age 15-35 years) and 12.3% (age > 35 years); among the females, 4.6% (age 15-35 years) and 14.2% (age > 35 years). Of the 1498 limbs examined, the prevalent diseases reported were: suspect narrow chest syndrome: 0.3% among the males > 35 years, 0.6% among the females aged 15-35 years, 1% among the females > 35 years; scapulo-humeral periarthritis: 0.3% among the males aged > 35 years, 0.3% among the females aged 15-35 years, 1.3% among the females aged > 35 years; lateral epicondylitis: 0.3% among the males aged > 35 years, 0.2% among the females aged > 35 years; trapeziometacarpal arthrosis: 0.8% among the females aged > 35 years; wrist-hand tendinitis: 0.9% among the males aged > 35 years, 0.9% among the females aged 15-35 years; carpal tunnel syndrome: 2.5% among the females aged > 35 years. No disorders were detected outside the age ranges indicated. Several workers reported more than one disorder. The number of workers with at least one WMSD was: males 0% in the 15-35 years age range, 3.5% in the > 35 years age range; females 2.3% in the 15-35 years age range, 7.2% in the > 35 year age range; 3.9% of the total sample population. The prevalences were on average quite low, particularly among the older workers, hence the authors recommend that even minimal prevalences detected in particular work environments should not be underestimated.

Incidence and prevalence of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders. A systematic appraisal of the literature

“…Morse et al [ 28 ] defined UEDs as 'pain or discomfort of the hand, arm, shoulder, or neck for one continuous week or 20 days total over the previous 12 months (= chronic pain)'. The other three studies [ 16 , 29 , 30 ] also reported a specified definition of UEDs. The terms they used refer to musculoskeletal disorders located in the upper extremity.…”

“…In the case definitions they specified the duration of the complaints within the last 12 months and the sensation the patients must have beside pain such as discomfort or paraesthesia. In addition, Batavi et al [ 30 ] and Bernard et al [ 29 ] excluded UEDs caused by an acute trauma. Bernard et al [ 29 ] made the case definition even more specific by labeling work-relatedness of the disorder caused by the current job and the seriousness of the disorder.…”

ManTRA for the Assessment of Musculoskeletal Risk Factors Associated With Manual Tasks in an Electric Factory

“…Appropriate training to ManTRA users as well as employees' and management' contribution to task analysis and risk assessment process can help to gain the precise risk assessment results (4,9). ManTRA suggests that the tasks with cumulative risk scores excessive TLVs should be considered to suffer further measurements or actions to reduce obtained cumulative risk scores to TLVs to prevent WMSDs occurrences (9,12). Preventive measures should be exerted on the manual tasks that have cumulative risk scores excessive TLVs for minimizing WMSDs occurrences of anybody regions (13).…”

Awkward work postures: Association with occupational gender segregation

“…Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are common worldwide, and more common among women [see, e.g., Ashbury, 1995;Guo et al, 1995;De Zwart et al, 1997;Battevi et al, 1998;Zetterberg and Ö fverholm, 1999;Swedish Work Environment Authority and Statistics Sweden, 2003]. A plausible explanation to gender differences in WRMSDs might be exposure differences or differences in exposure levels between male and female workers.…”