title: Ergonomic pain--part 2: differential diagnosis and management considerations.
abstract: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can produce ergonomic pain in several different regions of the body, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, lumbar spine, knee, and ankle/foot. Each family of disorders is distinctive in presentation and requires diagnosis-specific interventions. Because of the complex nature of these disorders, management approaches may not always eliminate symptoms and or completely restore patient function to a level found prior to symptom onset. As a consequence, ergonomic measures should be implemented to reduce the overload on tissue and contribute to patient recovery. However, functional limits may persist and the clinician must make further decisions regarding a person's functional status in the chronic stages of the patient's care.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Science Center, School of Allied Health, Doctorate of Science Program in Physical Therapy, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sizer
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: Jean Michél
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brismée
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dedrick