Impact of physical exposure on neck and upper limb disorders in female workers

Physical workload [muscular load of the trapezius and infraspinatus muscles using electromyography (EMG), wrist positions and movements by electrogoni ometers] and neck and upper limb disorders (from, for example, a physical e xamination) were studied in women with repetitive industrial work (n = 95) and referents (n = 74). The repetitive work displayed higher ratings for wr ist movements, but not for EMG. The prevalences of neck, shoulder and wrist /hand disorders were elevated for women with repetitive work [age-adjusted prevalence odds ratios (PORs) 2.0-7.5]. For the left hand, high frequency o f wrist movements (mean power frequency 0.53 Hz) was associated with a high prevalence of disorders (56%), as compared to low (0.28 Hz and 26%; POR 3. 5). We found no consistent and significant effect of muscular load, on eith er neck or shoulder disorders. However, selection and other bias may have d iminished our possibility to observe such effects. Psychosocial work enviro nment factors were not confounding the results. Measurements of wrist movem ents may be used for identification of high-risk work tasks. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.