title: Work-related risk factors for lateral epicondylitis and other cause of elbow pain in the working population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to assess the relationship between work-related combined physical and psychosocial factors and elbow disorders (lateral epicondylitis and non-specific disorders without lateral epicondylitis) in the working population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3,710 workers (58% men) in a French region in 2002-2005 participated in physical examinations by occupational health physicians and assessed their personal factors and work exposure by self-administered questionnaire. Statistical associations between elbow disorders and risks factors were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 389 (10.5%) workers had elbow pain without lateral epicondylitis and 90 (2.4%) workers had lateral epicondylitis. Age, body mass index (>25), and low social support (only for men) were significant risks factors. Hard perceived physical exertion combined with elbow flexion/extension (>2 hr/day) and wrist bending (>2 hr/day) was a strong significant risk factor for elbow pain and epicondylitis: among men, adjusted Odds Ratio (ORa) = 2.6 (1.9-3.7) and ORa = 5.6 (2.8-11.3), respectively; among women, ORa = 1.4 (0.9-2.2) and ORa = 2.9 (1.3-6.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study emphasizes the strength of the associations between combined physical exertion and elbow movements and lateral epicondylitis. Certain observed differences in associations with lateral epicondylitis and elbow pain only indicate the need for additional longitudinal studies on different stages of elbow disorders and known risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Population-Based Epidemiological Cohorts, Research Platform, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, UMRS 1018, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Eleonore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herquelot
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bodin
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roquelaure
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zins
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Descatha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004550:Elbow; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology