TY - JOUR
T1 - Why are manual workers at high risk of upper limb disorders? The role of physical work factors in a random sample of workers in France (the Pays de la Loire study)
AU - Melchior, M.
AU - Roquelaure, Y.
AU - Evanoff, B.
AU - Chastang, J. F.
AU - Ha, C.
AU - Imbernon, E.
AU - Goldberg, M.
AU - Leclerc, A.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - Objective: To investigate the reasons for the excess risk of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among manual workers compared with other workers in a random sample of 2656 French men and women (20-59 years old) participating in a study on the prevalence of work related upper limb disorders conducted by France's National Institute of Health Surveillance. Methods: Prevalence ratios (PR) of physician-diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand (any of six leading disorders, rotator cuff syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome) in manual versus non-manual workers were calculated using Cox regression models with a constant time of follow up and robust variance. Results: 11.3% of men and 15.1% of women were diagnosed with an upper limb disorder. The risk was especially high in manual workers (PRs: 1.40 to 2.10). Physical work factors accounted for over 50% of occupational disparities overall, 62% (men) to 67% (women) for rotator cuff syndrome, and 96% (women) for carpal tunnel syndrome. The authors calculated that under lower levels of physical work exposures, up to 31% of cases among manual workers could have been prevented. Conclusions: In working men and women, upper limb musculoskeletal disorders are frequent. Physical work exposures, such as repetitive and forceful movements, are an important source of risk and in particular account for a large proportion of excess morbidity among manual workers.
AB - Objective: To investigate the reasons for the excess risk of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among manual workers compared with other workers in a random sample of 2656 French men and women (20-59 years old) participating in a study on the prevalence of work related upper limb disorders conducted by France's National Institute of Health Surveillance. Methods: Prevalence ratios (PR) of physician-diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand (any of six leading disorders, rotator cuff syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome) in manual versus non-manual workers were calculated using Cox regression models with a constant time of follow up and robust variance. Results: 11.3% of men and 15.1% of women were diagnosed with an upper limb disorder. The risk was especially high in manual workers (PRs: 1.40 to 2.10). Physical work factors accounted for over 50% of occupational disparities overall, 62% (men) to 67% (women) for rotator cuff syndrome, and 96% (women) for carpal tunnel syndrome. The authors calculated that under lower levels of physical work exposures, up to 31% of cases among manual workers could have been prevented. Conclusions: In working men and women, upper limb musculoskeletal disorders are frequent. Physical work exposures, such as repetitive and forceful movements, are an important source of risk and in particular account for a large proportion of excess morbidity among manual workers.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750579621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/oem.2005.025122
DO - 10.1136/oem.2005.025122
M3 - Article
C2 - 16787978
AN - SCOPUS:33750579621
SN - 1351-0711
VL - 63
SP - 754
EP - 761
JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
IS - 11
ER -