Details:

Alternative Title:
Occup Environ Med
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2012-101287
Personal Author:
Burt, Susan ; Deddens, James A ; Crombie, Ken ; Jin, Yan ; Wurzelbacher, Steve ; ... More +
Burt, Susan ; Deddens, James A ; Crombie, Ken ; Jin, Yan ; Wurzelbacher, Steve ; Ramsey, Jessica Less -
Description:
Objectives

To quantify the risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) from workplace physical factors, particularly hand activity level and forceful exertion, while taking into account individual factors including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and pre-existing medical conditions.

Methods

Three healthcare and manufacturing workplaces were selected for inclusion on the basis of range of exposure to hand activity level and forceful exertion represented by their jobs. Each study participants job tasks were observed and evaluated ’ onsite and videotaped for further analysis, including frequency and duration of exertion and postural deviation. Individual health assessment entailed electrodiagnostic testing of median and ulnar nerves, physical examination and questionnaires at baseline with annual follow-up for 2 years.

Results

The incidence of dominant hand CTS during the study was 5.11 per 100 person-years (29 cases). Adjusted HRs for dominant hand CTS were as follows: working with forceful exertion ≥20% but <60% of the time: 2.83 (1.18, 6.79) and ≥60% of the time vs <20%: 19.57 (5.96, 64.24), BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity): 3.19 (1.28, 7.98). The American Conference for Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for hand activity level also predicted CTS, HR=1.40 (1.11, 1.78) for each unit increase in the TLV ratio, controlling for obesity and job strain.

Conclusions

Workplace and individual risk factors both contribute to the risk for CTS. Time spent in forceful exertion can be a greater risk for CTS than obesity if the job exposure is high. Preventive workplace efforts should target forceful exertions.


Subjects:
[+]
Adult Aged Article Body Mass Index Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Female Functional Laterality Hand Health Personnel Humans Industry Male Middle Aged Muscle Contraction Obesity Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Occupations Physical Exertion Posture Proportional Hazards Models Prospective Studies Questionnaires Risk Factors Threshold Limit Values Ulnar Nerve Work Workplace Young Adult
Source:
Occup Environ Med. 70(8):568-574.
Pubmed ID:
23788614
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4552318
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
DYT1/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c3da09e6a6103f591b2db8be8d3ccccf5a3d378a135f184b4c7c5913d205b424
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/33926/cdc_33926_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	NIHMS717821-supplement-Supp_data.pdf	pdf
  	nihms717821.nxml	txt
  	nihms717821f1.gif	gif
  	nihms717821f1.jpg	jpeg
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  	nihms717821f2.jpg	jpeg

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