title: Self-reported work-related musculoskeletal injuries and isometric handgrip strength.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal injuries are common in car assembly workers, causing significant morbidity. There is evidence that increased muscle strength reduces musculoskeletal injury risk and that handgrip strength is a predictor of general muscle strength. Aims To investigate whether isometric handgrip strength (IHGS) is a predictor of increased musculoskeletal injury risk in automotive assembly workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured IHGS in a cross-sectional survey of final assembly line workers in an automotive manufacturing plant. Weak handgrip was defined as two standard deviations below the normative mean value for age and gender. Self-reported musculoskeletal injury/accident data and recent musculoskeletal symptoms were recorded using a modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 445 final assembly line workers, 206 (46%) participated. Sixty participants (29%) reported a musculoskeletal injury/accident at work in the preceding 5 years. Mean IHGS in this population was lower than international normative values. Odds ratios for self-reported injury (adjusted for gender and recent musculoskeletal symptoms) were 0.62 (95% CI 0.28-1.35) for left weak handgrip and 0.57 (95% CI 0.31-1.1) for right weak handgrip.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, weak handgrip did not predict increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries/accidents.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health, Jaguar Land Rover, Birmingham B35 7RA, UK. groblercorne@aol.com
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grobler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult