TY - JOUR
T1 - Self-reported physical work exposures and incident carpal tunnel syndrome
AU - Dale, Ann Marie
AU - Gardner, Bethany T.
AU - Zeringue, Angelique
AU - Strickland, Jaime
AU - Descatha, Alexis
AU - Franzblau, Alfred
AU - Evanoff, Bradley A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - Background: To prospectively evaluate associations between self-reported physical work exposures and incident carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: Newly employed workers (n=1,107) underwent repeated nerve conduction studies (NCS), and periodic surveys on hand symptoms and physical work exposures including average daily duration of wrist bending, forearm rotation, finger pinching, using vibrating tools, finger/thumb pressing, forceful gripping, and lifting >2 pounds. Multiple logistic regression models examined relationships between peak, most recent, and time-weighted average exposures and incident CTS, adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index. Results: 710 subjects (64.1%) completed follow-up NCS; 31 incident cases of CTS occurred over 3-year follow-up. All models describing lifting or forceful gripping exposures predicted future CTS. Vibrating tool use was predictive in some models. Conclusions: Self-reported exposures showed consistent risks across different exposure models in this prospective study. Workers' self-reported job demands can provide useful information for targeting work interventions.
AB - Background: To prospectively evaluate associations between self-reported physical work exposures and incident carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: Newly employed workers (n=1,107) underwent repeated nerve conduction studies (NCS), and periodic surveys on hand symptoms and physical work exposures including average daily duration of wrist bending, forearm rotation, finger pinching, using vibrating tools, finger/thumb pressing, forceful gripping, and lifting >2 pounds. Multiple logistic regression models examined relationships between peak, most recent, and time-weighted average exposures and incident CTS, adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index. Results: 710 subjects (64.1%) completed follow-up NCS; 31 incident cases of CTS occurred over 3-year follow-up. All models describing lifting or forceful gripping exposures predicted future CTS. Vibrating tool use was predictive in some models. Conclusions: Self-reported exposures showed consistent risks across different exposure models in this prospective study. Workers' self-reported job demands can provide useful information for targeting work interventions.
KW - Carpal tunnel syndrome
KW - Longitudinal studies
KW - Occupational health
KW - Physical work exposures
KW - Prospective
KW - Self-report
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84907893605&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajim.22359
DO - 10.1002/ajim.22359
M3 - Article
C2 - 25223617
AN - SCOPUS:84907893605
SN - 0271-3586
VL - 57
SP - 1246
EP - 1254
JO - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
JF - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
IS - 11
ER -