Documents repetitive work 80 results

"This study investigated the influence of manual stone and brick handling and psychosocial work factors on the risk of chronic low-back pain and describes the impact in terms of risk advancement period.The results suggest that repetitive work involving bent positions and the manual manipulation of heavy stones increases the risk of future chronic low-back pain. For risk communication, the notion that a 40-year-old construction worker laying large sandstones has the same risk as an unexposed 58-year-old construction worker may be more informative."

Objectives A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the predictability of personal and occupational factors with respect to the incidence of upper-limb disorders in occupations requiring repetitive work.Conclusions This study considered different sets of risk factors simultaneously with a longitudinal approach, in a population with a high level of occupational exposure. The results indicate that three sets of risk factors independently affect the incidence of upper-limb disorders. In addition to biomechanical constraints, psychosocial and personal factors play a role.

"Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate both nonoccupational and occupational factors associated with radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) among industrial workers in 3 large plants.Methods Twenty-one cases of RTS were compared with 21 referents matched for gender, age, and plant. RTS was associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in 9 cases. Past medical history, household activities, and ergonomic and organizational characteristics of the job were analyzed.Results The study found 3 occupational risk factors for RTS. Exertion of force of over 1 kg [odds ratio (OR) 9.1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-56.9] more than 10 times per hour was the main biomechanical risk factor. Prolonged static load applied to the hand during work was strongly associated with RTS (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.2-29.9). Work posture with the elbow fully extended (0-45 degrees) was associated with RTS (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.0-25.0). Full extension of the elbow, associated with a twisted posture of the forearm, stressed the radial nerve at the elbow. However, personal activities, household chores, and sport and leisure activities were not associated with RTS. Conclusions The study confirms that RTS occurs in workers performing hard manual labor that requires forceful and repetitive movements involving elbow extension and forearm prosupination."

"Objectives
The aim of this study was to make a quantitative assessment of the exposure–response relationships between work-related physical and psychosocial factors and the occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in occupational populations.
Methods
A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the associations of type of work, physical load factors, and psychosocial aspects at work to the occurrence of CTS. The associations between work factors and CTS were expressed in quantitative measures, namely, odds ratios (OR) or relative risks.
Results
Jobs with the highest risk of CTS included work in the meat- and fish-processing industry, forestry work with chain saws, and electronic assembly work (OR 76.5, 21.3, and 11.4, respectively). The occurrence of CTS was associated with high levels of hand-arm vibration, prolonged work with a flexed or extended wrist, high requirements for hand force, high repetitiveness, and their combination. No association was found between any psychosocial risk factor and CTS. Contradictory findings were reported for associations between computer work and CTS.
Conclusions
This review provides consistent indications that CTS is associated with an average hand force requirement of >4 kg, repetitiveness at work (cycle time 50% of cycle time performing the same movements), and a daily 8-hour energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration of 3.9 m/s2."

"OBJECTIVE:
Our aim was to provide a quantitative assessment of the exposure-response relationships between work-related physical and psychosocial factors and the occurrence of specific shoulder disorders in occupational populations.
METHODS:
A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the associations between type of work, physical load factors, and psychosocial aspects at work, on the one hand, and the occurrence of tendinitis of the biceps tendon, rotator cuff tears, subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS), and suprascapular nerve compression, on the other hand. Associations between work factors and shoulder disorders were expressed in quantitative measures as odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR).
RESULTS:
The occurrence of SIS was associated with force requirements >10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), lifting >20 kg >10 times/day, and high-level of hand force >1 hour/day (OR 2.8-4.2). Repetitive movements of the shoulder, repetitive motion of the hand/wrist >2 hours/day, hand-arm vibration, and working with hand above shoulder level showed an association with SIS (OR 1.04-4.7) as did upper-arm flexion > or =45 degrees > or =15% of time (OR 2.43) and duty cycle of forceful exertions > or =9% time or duty cycle of forceful pinch >0% of time (OR 2.66). High psychosocial job demand was also associated with SIS (OR 1.5-3.19). Jobs in the fish processing industry had the highest risk for both tendinitis of the biceps tendon as well as SIS (OR 2.28 and 3.38, respectively). Work in a slaughterhouse and as a betel pepper leaf culler were associated with the occurrence of SIS only (OR 5.27 and 4.68, respectively). None of the included articles described the association between job title/risk factors and the occurrence of rotator cuff tears or suprascapular nerve compression.
CONCLUSIONS:
Highly repetitive work, forceful exertion in work, awkward postures, and high psychosocial job demand are associated with the occurrence of SIS."

"Despite the high frequency of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the relation between work conditions and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow has not been the object of much research. In the present study, the predictive factors for such ulnar nerve entrapment were determined in a 3-year prospective survey of upper-limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders in repetitive work.Despite the limitations of the study, the results suggest that the incidence of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is associated with one biomechanical risk factor (holding a tool in position, repetitively), overweight, and other upper-limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders, especially medial epicondylitis and other nerve entrapment disorders (cervicobrachial neuralgia and carpal and radial tunnel syndromes)."

"The study focused upon psychological, ergonomic, and physically loading factors and chemical and physical environmental conditions. Data were obtained through self-reports, interviews, workplace analyses, technical measurements, and observations. Gender-specific calculations were used in univariate analyses and in stepwise logistic regression models for excess metabolic level.Metabolic demands in worklife today remain high. The women who exceeded the recommended metabolic level at work in this study were characterized by low pay, poor health, and children at home, in addition to high physical load and psychosocial strain at work. These characteristics indicate a group with few possibilities to leave a hazardous job for a less physically demanding one. The men who worked at an excess metabolic level seemed to be characterized more by a life-style common in some male-dominated work cultures with monotonous work."