title: Prevalence of epicondylitis and elbow pain in the meat-processing industry.
abstract: To determine the etiologic role of strenuous manual tasks in relation to epicondylitis, three clinical cross-sectional examinations were performed on meatcutters (N = 102), sausage makers (N = 125), packers (N = 150), and workers in nonstrenuous tasks (N = 332). The workers in strenuous jobs reported elbow symptoms 1.6-1.8 times as often as those in nonstrenuous jobs. Female sausage makers also showed epicondylar tenderness more often than the women in nonstrenuous jobs. In all the cross-sectional examinations combined, seven cases (0.8%) of epicondylitis were detected in both the strenuous and nonstrenuous jobs. A control for the possible sources of bias (leaving the company, changing task, being on sick leave) did not suggest a marked loss of potential cases of epicondylitis. A major role of strenuous tasks in the etiology of epicondylitis was not shown. However, because the number of clinical cases was small, the power of the study was low.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viikari-Juntura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurppa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuosma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huuskonen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kuorinka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ketola
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Könni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology