A direct relationship between work activities and the onset of musculo
skeletal symptoms has not been definitively proven, but several diagno
stic entities are thought to be caused or magnified by repetitive moti
ons or cumulative trauma on the job. This article discusses the identi
fication and treatment of these recognized clinical entities, includin
g compressive neuropathies, sites of tenosynovitis (such as trigger di
git, de Quervain's syndrome, and intersection syndrome), epicondylitis
, and carpometacarpal arthritis. These conditions typically produce a
definable set of symptoms and physical findings, and standard treatmen
t approaches have been identified. If the picture is unclear and diagn
osis of a specific clinical condition cannot be established, the autho
rs recommend that physicians not label patients with vague diagnostic
terms unsupportable by objective criteria.