Journal Article

Associations between work-related Factors and Specific Disorders of the Shoulder-A Systematic Review of the Literature

Rogier M van Rijn, Bionka MA Huisstede, Bart W Koes, Alex Burdorf

2010

Overview

Objective Our aim was to provide a quantitative assessment of the exposure-response relationships between work-related physical and psychosocial factors and the occurrence of specific shoulder disorders in occupational populations. Methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the associations between type of work, physical load factors, and psychosocial aspects at work, on the one hand, and the occurrence of tendinitis of the biceps tendon, rotator cuff tears, subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS), and suprascapular nerve compression, on the other hand. Associations between work factors and shoulder disorders were expressed in quantitative measures as odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR). Results The occurrence of SIS was associated with force requirements >10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), lifting >20 kg >10 times/day, and high-level of hand force >1 hour/day (OR 2.8—4.2). Repetitive movements of the shoulder, repetitive motion of the hand/wrist >2 hours/day, hand-arm vibration, and working with hand above shoulder level showed an association with SIS (OR 1.04—4.7) as did upper-arm flexion ≥45° ≥15% of time (OR 2.43) and duty cycle of forceful exertions ≥9% time or duty cycle of forceful pinch >0% of time (OR 2.66). High psychosocial job demand was also associated with SIS (OR 1.5—3.19). Jobs in the fish processing industry had the highest risk for both tendinitis of the biceps tendon as well as SIS (OR 2.28 and 3.38, respectively). Work in a slaughterhouse and as a betel pepper leaf culler were associated with the occurrence of SIS only (OR 5.27 and 4.68, respectively). None of the included articles described the association between job title/risk factors and the occurrence of rotator cuff tears or suprascapular nerve compression. Conclusions Highly repetitive work, forceful exertion in work, awkward postures, and high psychosocial job demand are associated with the occurrence of SIS.

• Publisher: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health,Finnish Institute of Occupational Health,National Institute of Occupational Health,National Research Centre for the Working Environment,Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health,Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health,Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
• Subject: Abattoirs / Accidents, Occupational / Arm / Biological and medical sciences / Commercial fishing / Compression / Cumulative Trauma Disorders - etiology / Diseases of the osteoarticular system / disorder / Disorders / Fish / Fish processing / force / Humans / Juxtaarticular diseases. Extraarticular rhumatism / Lifting / literature review / Literature reviews / Medical sciences / msd / musculoskeletal disorder / Nerves / Occupational Diseases - etiology / Occupational Exposure / Occupations / Predisposing factors / Psychosocial factors / Questionnaires / Reduction (Phonological or Phonetic) / Repetitive work / repetitiveness / Review / Risk / Risk factors / Rotator cuff / Shoulder / Shoulder - physiopathology / shoulder disorder / Shoulder Injuries / Shoulder Joint - physiopathology / Shoulder pain / sis / specific shoulder disorder / Stress, Psychological - complications / Stress, Psychological - etiology / subacromial impingement syndrome / systematic literature review / Systematic review / Tendinopathy / Tendons / Weight-Bearing - physiology / Work / work-related factor / Working hours