title: [Symptoms and upper limb work-related musculo-skeletal disorders among 173 supermarket cashiers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cashiers in supermarket chains have long been considered at risk for the development of work related musculo-skeletal disorders of the upper limbs (UL-WMSDs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of UL-WMSDs among workers operating supermarket cash tills and, after clinical tests, their frequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardized questionnaire was given to a random group of 173 workers in order to collect information regarding symptoms in the upper limbs (pain and parasthesia). Among the 111 workers who reached a "positive clinical history threshold" we selected a random sample of subjects to undergo clinical tests (professional medical care, ultrasound examination, electro-neurographic examination).
  
  
  RESULTS
  64% of the workers had a positive clinical history for UL-WMSDs. The most frequently reported disorder was pain, especially in the shoulder, while 37% of workers suffered from one or more disorders of the upper limbs. Clinical tests were performed on 51 workers (47 women) whose average length of service was 20 years and 2/3 were part-time workers; a total of 43 UL-WMSDs (59%) were diagnosed in 30 workers, including 13 (30.2%) cases of compressive neuropathies, 13 cases of hand/elbow tendinitis (30.2%) and 17 cases of shoulder tendinitis (39.5%). The average age of these 30 subjects was 47 years, with a length of service of 23 years, mostly part-time workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a high prevalence of general disorders and cases of UL-WMSDs among the workers investigated, including part-time workers and workers who were not working exclusively as cashiers. The study also revealed a poor health surveillance programme to identify/ UL-WMSDs that should be the responsibility of the occupational physician and a consequent underestimation of risk and lack of the information needed to adopt preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Prevenzione e Sicurezza Ambienti di Lavoro, ASL Brescia. pietro.barbieri@aslbrescia.it
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pizzoni
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scolari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucchini
mesh_terms: D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity