@Article{Werner2005, author = "Werner, Robert A. and Franzblau, Alfred and Gell, Nancy and Hartigan, Anne G. and Ebersole, Marissa and Armstrong, Tom J.", title = "Risk factors for visiting a medical department because of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders", journal = "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health", year = "2005", month = "Apr", day = "31", number = "2", pages = "132--137", keywords = "Cox regression; cumulative trauma disorder; medical department; MSD; musculoskeletal disorder; occupational medicine; repetitive strain injury; risk factor; upper extremity", abstract = "'
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OBJECTIVES ': 'This study followed 279 auto assembly workers over 1 year to identify which factors influenced whether a worker would visit the plant medical department because of an upper-extremity musculoskeletal problem.
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METHODS ': 'Incident cases were defined as involving workers who had not gone to the plant medical department in the preceding 6 months and then subsequently visited the medical department with a work-related musculoskeletal disorder that was potentially due to repetitive work activity (acute fractures or lacerations were excluded).
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RESULTS ': 'There were 45 cases identified during the study period. Based on Cox regression analysis, significant predictors for visiting a medical department included exceeding the threshold limit value for hand activity and peak force, a history of diabetes, a current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, elbow tendonitis, and age under 40 years.
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CONCLUSIONS ': 'The results of this study are consistent with those of other prospective studies that showed that both ergonomic and past medical history are risk factors for an upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorder and suggests that there is a healthy worker or survivor effect among older workers.
", issn = "0355-3140", doi = "10.5271/sjweh.860", url = "https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=860", url = "https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.860" }