Ergonomic stressors and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in automobile manufacturing: a one year follow up study

Numerous investigators have performed cross-sectional studies of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among industrial workers, and modeled the prevalence of these conditions in relation to potential ergonomic exposures and other covariates. However, prospective studies have been rare for a variety of reasons. Results of a cross-sectional study of UEMSDs based on data collected approximately 5 years ago were published in 1999 (Latko et al., 1999). A subset of the workers from this study were available for re-examination approximately 5 years after the first investigation. The survey tools and clinical examination protocols used in the follow-up examinations were largely identical to the baseline procedures, thus permitting direct comparison of results between rounds. Workers from 2 of the 3 employers in the original study were available for the follow-up investigation. Just over 50% of available and eligible workers participated in the follow-up examinations (152 out of 267, or 57%). The mean age at follow-up was almost 48 years (standard deviation = 9.5 years). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.9 at follow-up, and just over half of the study participants were male (53%). Most subjects were still employed by the same employer, and most were still in the same jobs. The prevalence and severity of upper extremity symptoms declined significantly in most body regions between baseline and follow-up. In contrast, the prevalence of most upper extremity diagnoses (tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome based on symptoms, standardized physical examinations, and/or nerve conduction tests) increased slightly, though not significantly. Relative median-minus-ulnar peak latency differences increased slightly, and significantly, between rounds. There are almost no studies for comparison of results. More prospective studies are needed to better understand the natural history of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among workers.

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Musculoskeletal disorders among construction workers: a one-year follow-up study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/1471-2474-13-196 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Julitta S Boschman ◽

Henk F van der Molen ◽

Judith K Sluiter ◽

Monique HW Frings-Dresen

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Construction Workers ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

One Year

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Physical Exposure Assessment in a Large Prospective Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders Study

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193120204601303 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 46 (13) ◽

pp. 1017-1021

Author(s):

Stephen Bao ◽

Peregrin Spielholz ◽

Ninica Howard ◽

Barbara Silverstein ◽

Caroline Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exposure Assessment ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

First Year ◽

Physical Exposure ◽

Reduction Methods ◽

Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Physical Exposures

This paper describes a battery of physical exposure assessment methods used in a large prospective upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders study. Different from some previous prospective studies, this study collects health and physical exposure data for each study subject rather than at a group level. Subjects are recruited from different job categories based on their hand activity exposure categories. Multiple exposure assessment methods are used to measure job physical exposures such as force, repetition, and work posture. This will allow us to compare the sensitivity of different exposure assessment methods in predicting the risk for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Procedures have also been taken to monitor inter-observer reliability for some observational analyses. During the first year of the study, baseline exposure measurements have been collected from 607 volunteers at 11 different worksites. Follow-up measurements have also been collected in these worksites. Whenever a participant has a significant job change, a new exposure assessment is conducted at the new job. This paper will primarily discuss the various exposure assessment methods used in this study, and use some preliminary results to demonstrate some of the data reduction methods.

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Impact of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders on Egyptian Pediatric Physical Therapists: One-Year Follow-Up Study

Trends in Applied Sciences Research ◽

10.3923/tasr.2015.175.182 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 175-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Doaa Tammam Atia ◽

Faten Hassan Abdelazeim ◽

Hamdy Radwan

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Work Related ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

One Year

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Musculoskeletal disorders in physically active conscripts: a one-year follow-up study in the Finnish Defence Forces

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/1471-2474-10-89 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Henri Taanila ◽

Jaana Suni ◽

Harri Pihlajamäki ◽

Ville M Mattila ◽

Olli Ohrankämmen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Physically Active ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

One Year

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Proportion and Number of Upper-Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders Attributable to the Combined Effect of Biomechanical and Psychosocial Risk Factors in a Working Population

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18083858 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 3858

Author(s):

Aboubakari Nambiema ◽

Julie Bodin ◽

Susan Stock ◽

Agnès Aublet-Cuvelier ◽

Alexis Descatha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Social Support ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

Physical Exertion ◽

Combined Effect ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Working Population ◽

Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

The objective of this paper is to assess the combined effect of occupational biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors on the incidence of work-related upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) and estimate the proportion and number of incident cases attributable to these risk factors in a working population. Using data from the French COSALI (COhorte des SAlariés LIgériens) cohort (enrolment phase: 2002–2005; follow-up phase: 2007–2010), a complete case analysis including 1246 workers (59% men, mean age: 38 years ± 8.6 at baseline) was performed. All participants underwent a standardized clinical examination at enrolment and 1611 workers were re-examined at follow-up. Population attributable fractions and the number of UEMSD cases attributable to occupational risk factors were calculated. During follow-up, 139 UEMSD cases were diagnosed, representing an estimated 129,320 projected incident UEMSD cases in the working population. After adjusting for personal factors, in model 1, 8664 cases (6.7%) were attributable to low social support, 19,010 (14.7%) to high physical exertion, and 20,443 (15.8%) to co-exposure to both factors. In model 2, 16,294 (12.6%) cases were attributable to low social support, 6983 (5.4%) to posture with arms above shoulder level, and 5043 (3.9%) to co-exposure to both factors. Our findings suggest that many cases of UEMSD could be potentially prevented by multidimensional interventions aimed at reducing exposure to high physical exertion and improving social support at work.

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