Hand dominance in upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of hand dominance in common upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSD) in a population study.


METHODS
The target population consisted of a representative sample of people aged 30 years or older residing in Finland during 2000-2001. Of the 7977 eligible subjects, 6254 (78.4%) were included in the study.


RESULTS
The prevalence of UEMSD was as follows: rotator cuff tendinitis 3.8%, bicipital tendinitis 0.5%, lateral epicondylitis 1.1%, medial epicondylitis 0.3%, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) 3.8%, and surgery due to CTS 1.3%. CTS was 2.5 times as prevalent in women as men, whereas the other UEMSD were as common in both sexes. Rotator cuff and bicipital tendinitis and medial epicondylitis were more prevalent in the dominant arm only in women, whereas lateral epicondylitis was more prevalent in the dominant elbow in both sexes. The higher prevalence of rotator cuff and bicipital tendinitis in the dominant side persisted beyond working age. The prevalence of CTS did not differ by hand dominance. Dominant hand had been operated more frequently for CTS in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that UEMSD are more prevalent in the dominant than nondominant arm mainly in women. For shoulder tendinitis, the difference persists throughout adult age. Physical load factors may have long-lasting effects on the shoulder and they may play a greater role in women than men.
Shiri
Rahman
R
Musculoskeletal Center, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. rahman.shiri@ttl.fi
Varonen
Helena
H
Heliövaara
Markku
M
Viikari-Juntura
Eira
E
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing