title: HIP osteoarthritis and work.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence points strongly to a hazard of hip osteoarthritis from heavy manual work. Harmful exposures may be reduced by the elimination or redesign of processes and the use of mechanical aids. Reducing obesity might help to protect workers whose need to perform heavy lifting cannot be eliminated. Particularly high relative risks have been reported in farmers, and hip osteoarthritis is a prescribed occupational disease in the UK for long-term employees in agriculture. Even where it is not attributable to employment, hip osteoarthritis impacts importantly on the capacity to work. Factors that may influence work participation include the severity of disease, the physical demands of the job, age and the size of the employer. Published research does not provide a strong guide to the timing of return to work following hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, and it is unclear whether patients should avoid heavy manual tasks in their future employment.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: E Clare
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK/MRC Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. Electronic address: dnc@mrc.soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coggon
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Arthroplasty; Compensation; Hip; Lifting; Manual handling; Occupation; Osteoarthritis