title: Upper extremity disability in workers with hand-arm vibration syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a common occupational problem and it is important to understand the disability associated with this condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure upper extremity disability using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire in workers with HAVS and to determine how this disability is affected by the vascular and neurological components of HAVS and other factors, in particular musculoskeletal variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were recruited from HAVS patients assessed at St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada, over a 2-year period. All participants were assessed by an occupational medicine specialist to determine the specific components of HAVS and musculoskeletal variables including upper extremity pain score measured by the Borg scale. The DASH questionnaire was completed on the same day as the clinical assessment and before any feedback had been given about the clinical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 141 workers with HAVS were recruited and 139 agreed to participate in the study. This study group had a statistically significantly higher mean DASH score than the US population (P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that upper extremity pain score (P < 0.001), the Stockholm sensorineural scale (P < 0.01) and the number of fingers blanching (P < 0.05) had a statistically significant association with an increase in the DASH score. The highest partial R(2) value was for the upper extremity pain score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workers with HAVS have significant upper extremity disability and musculoskeletal factors appear to make an important contribution to this disability.
authors.affiliation: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. houser@smh.toronto.on.ca
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liss
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Switzer-McIntyre
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*