Medical screening of office workers for upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders.
Authors
Franzblau-A; Flaschner-D; Albers-JW; Blitz-S; Werner-R; Armstrong-T
Source
Arch Environ Health 1993 May; 48(3):164-170
Abstract
Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) were investigated in workers employed in a university department involved in graphic arts and medical illustration. Carpal tunnel syndrome had been diagnosed in three of seven graphic artists, but no CTDs had been reported in 39 other workers in the same department. Medical screening of office workers and an investigation of possible workplace factors that might be related to CTDs were conducted. Seven graphic artists were invited to participate in the evaluation and a sample of remaining workers was chosen as a comparative group. Graphic artists and comparison subjects had similar patterns of discomfort in the neck, shoulders, upper arms, and elbows. Graphic artists reported symptoms of the forearms, wrists and hands significantly more frequently than their coworkers. On average, the graphic artists used the computer mouse a greater fraction of each work day than did comparison subjects. They also performed cutting and pasting operations much more frequently. There were small but statistically significant differences between groups on median motor and sensory test results. Overall the results suggest that specific work elements appear to be associated with increased reporting of distal upper extremity symptoms and electrophysiologic changes at the wrist.
Keywords
NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Musculoskeletal-system-disorders; Computer-equipment; Humans; Carpal-tunnel-syndrome; Cumulative-trauma-disorders; Neuromotor-disorders; Sensory-disorders;
Contact
Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-002941
Priority Area
Grants Other
Source Name
Archives of Environmental Health
Performing Organization
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
