Risk factors for upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders in the working population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relative importance of personal and occupational risk factors for upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders in the working population.


METHODS
A total of 3,710 workers (58% men) participating in a surveillance program of musculoskeletal disorders in a French region in 2002-2005 were included. Upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders were diagnosed by 83 trained occupational physicians performing a standardized physical examination. Personal factors and work exposure were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical associations between musculoskeletal disorders, personal, and occupational factors were analyzed using logistic regression modeling.


RESULTS
A total of 472 workers experienced at least 1 upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorder. The risk of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders increased with age for both sexes (P < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] < or =4.9 in men and < or =5.0 in women), and in cases of prior history of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders (OR 3.1 and 5.0, respectively, P < 0.001). In men, upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders were associated with obesity (OR 2.2, P = 0.014), high level of physical demand (OR 2.0, P < 0.001), high repetitiveness of the task (OR 1.5, P = 0.027), postures with the arms at or above shoulder level (OR 1.7, P = 0.009) or with full elbow flexion (OR 1.6, P = 0.006), and high psychological demand (OR 1.5, P = 0.005). In women, upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders were associated with diabetes mellitus (OR 4.9, P = 0.001), postures with extreme wrist bending (OR 2.0, P < 0.001), use of vibrating hand tools (OR 2.2, P = 0.025), and low level of decision authority (OR 1.4, P = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Personal and work-related physical and psychosocial factors were strongly associated with clinically diagnosed upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
Université d'Angers, Laboratoire d'Ergonomie et d'Epidémiologie en Santé au Travail, IFR 132, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Angers, France. yvroquelaure@chu-angers.fr
Yves
Y
Roquelaure
Catherine
C
Ha
Clarisse
C
Rouillon
Natacha
N
Fouquet
Annette
A
Leclerc
Alexis
A
Descatha
Annie
A
Touranchet
Marcel
M
Goldberg
Ellen
E
Imbernon
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology