title: Work ability in vibration-exposed workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hand-arm vibration exposure may cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) including sensorineural disturbances.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate which factors had the strongest impact on work ability in vibration-exposed workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in which vibration-exposed workers referred to a department of occupational and environmental medicine were compared with a randomized sample of unexposed subjects from the general population of the city of Gothenburg. All participants underwent a structured interview, answered several questionnaires and had a physical examination including measurements of hand and finger muscle strength and vibrotactile and thermal perception thresholds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vibration-exposed group (47 subjects) showed significantly reduced sensitivity to cold and warmth in digit 2 bilaterally (P < 0.01) and in digit 5 in the left hand (P < 0.05) and to warmth in digit 5 in the right hand (P < 0.01), compared with the 18 referents. Similarly, tactilometry showed significantly raised vibration perception thresholds among the workers (P < 0.05). A strong relationship was found for the following multiple regression model: estimated work ability = 11.4 - 0.1 × age - 2.3 × current stress level - 2.5 × current pain in hands/arms (multiple r = 0.68; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vibration-exposed workers showed raised vibrotactile and thermal perception thresholds, compared with unexposed referents. Multiple regression analysis indicated that stress disorders and muscle pain in hands/arms must also be considered when evaluating work ability among subjects with HAVS.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. lars.gerhardsson@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gerhardsson
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
keywords: Hand–arm vibration syndrome; pain and stress disorders; vibration exposure; work ability.