Occupational (and non-occupational) risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.
BACKGROUND
Musculoskeletal disorders are an important cause of disability and absence from work in industrialized countries. A number of studies reported the importance of occupational, personal and psycho-social factors in the aetiology of these work-related disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To stress the complex relationships existing between risk factors, reporting findings from reviews and original studies regarding two of the most significant musculoskeletal disorders: carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and low back pain (LBP).


CONCLUSIONS
More detailed epidemiological studies are needed to explore the interactions between risk (and protective) factors, since these can play the role of determinants, confounders or effect modifiers.
Mattioli
S
S
Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, UO Occupational Medicine, S Orsola Malpighi Hospital. s.mattioli@unibo.it
Brillante
R
R
Zanardi
Francesca
F
Bonfiglioli
Roberta
R
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors