WRULD

A female presented with right wrist pain for nine months. The diagnosis was De Quervain's tenosynovitis; her condition was initially managed conservatively, but later she needed surgery due to the lack of improvement. No workplace intervention had been implemented because her hand surgeons did not consider her occupational exposures. It was later discovered that there was significant exposure to ergonomic hazards at her workplace. She received accommodations in her workplace that led to reduction of exposure to ergonomic hazards and the subsequent dramatic improvement in her condition...

BACKGROUND: Physical therapists (PTs) are at increased risk for development of work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) due to the physically intensive, constant hands-on nature of the profession. The objectives of this systematic review were to examine the literature on WRULDs among PTs, specifically the (1) 1-year prevalence, (2) workplace risk factors, (3) consequences, and (4) coping strategies utilized to mitigate WRULDs. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed using PubMed, CINHAL, EMBASE, and Google Scholar...

BACKGROUND: Garment workers are at risk of developing work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) due to the highly repetitive nature of their work. Workplace-based rehabilitation (WBR) facilitates improvement in work performance by providing intervention at the worker's place of work. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the documented outcomes of workplace-based occupational therapy rehabilitation of garment workers with upper limb conditions. METHODS: A multiple case study design was used through a retrospective record review...

BACKGROUND: Former studies on work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) within university education report substantial prevalence rates. In this study, developments in WRULD amongst students in the period 2004-2014 were investigated. Our findings can be a benchmark for future studies, in particular when there are major societal changes as in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: Differences in time (academic year), how long students have been studying (year of studying), relations with computer time and societal changes were points of interest...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the three-year cumulative risk of work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) in a cohort of automotive industry workers and to provide a first test of the ability of the European Assembly Worksheet (EAWS) methodology to predict WRULDs. METHODS: 292 workers were investigated by reviewing workers' medical records during the period from 2012-2015 to determine their exposure to biomechanical overload according to EAWS risk scores (0-25, low risk, Green zone; 26-50, medium risk, Yellow zone; >50, High risk; Red zone)...

Background: Work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) are a syndrome of symptoms affecting the upper quadrant of the body and are a significant cause of pain, disability and sickness absence among workers. Exercise therapy is considered to be a clinical and cost-effective strategy in WRULD management. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapy for WRULDs in sedentary workers. Methods: This review follows an a priori protocol to maintain internal validity describing essential procedures to be followed (e...

BACKGROUND: Manual handling operations (MHO) are known to be risk factors for work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs), e.g. symptoms and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. To estimate the risk of WRULDs, a Key Indicator Method (KIM) for the risk assessment of MHO was developed. The method was validated in regard to different criteria, including face validity, criterion validity, reliability and further aspects concerning utility. This paper describes the KIM-MHO and criterion validity of this method with reference to prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)...

BACKGROUND: Work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD), repetitive strain injury (RSI), occupational overuse syndrome (OOS) and work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder (CANS) are the most frequently used umbrella terms for disorders that develop as a result of repetitive movements, awkward postures and impact of external forces such as those associated with operating vibrating tools. Work-related CANS, which is the term we use in this review, severely hampers the working population...

BACKGROUND: Hand usage and movement is routinely performed by all individuals daily irrespective of age. These movements can vary and can be repetitive in nature. Exposure of the hard and soft tissues of the hand to prolonged repetitive activities could contribute to the development of work related upper limb disorders (WRULD). OBJECTIVE: Within the work setting, work related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) rank high in the United Kingdom (UK), second only to back complaints...

This research aimed to determine the handgrip strength difference between (♂) and (♀) and its influence on the incidence of RSI / WRULD in meat-packing plants. The study had the participation of 201 workers from the bone sector of a pig slaughterhouse located in the municipality of Sao Miguel do Iguacu, state of Parana, Brazil, being 98 men and 103 women with mean age of 34.3 ( ± 4.7 years) and weight of 66.3 (± 6.5 kg) for (♀) and 36.5 (± 6.4 years) and weight of 77.6 (± 5.8 kg) for (♂). Handgrip strength was used in the evaluation...

This research was conducted with slaughterhouse female workers in the municipality of São Miguel do Iguaçu, state of Parana, Brazil. The sample was composed of 103 women aged 25 to 40 ( 7.57 years, and the study aimed to verify the nerve conduction of the median nerve. An esthesiometer consisting of a Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments was used to measure the hand skin sensitivity in the region of the median nerve and a Jamar® hand dynamometer, which was used to determine the handgrip strength. About 81% of individuals had normal sensitivity with 0...

Work related musculoskeletal disorders are seen as an indicating parameter of occupational stress among the women workers engaged in tea leaf plucking operation. The hand plucking (no mechanized plucking is practiced in Assam) being a highly repetitive task requires forceful exertions to reach to the distant periphery of the tea bushes and mechanical compression (pressing against hard surfaces). Specifically it aggravates with awkward positions adopted. The current research addresses to minimize the risk factors associated with CTDs and to ascertain the role of ergonomic design development in improving the situation...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if typing speed is proportional to the severity of pain in keyboard workers with work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD). DESIGN: Standardized functional typing test with participants scoring pain before and after typing; calculation of typing speed. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine patients and six controls. SETTING: Tertiary hospital centre for hand and upper limb pain. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain (VAS 0-10) and calculation of typing speed as words per minute...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a physical training program in combination with ergonomic changes in a group of keyboard operators with nonspecific/type II work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Hospital department. PARTICIPANTS: Pain-free controls (n=6) and currently working patients with WRULD (n=17) were included. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were taught how to self-rehabilitate according to a previously published physical exercise program, in addition the patients requested maximal ergonomic assistance from their employer according to British law...

OBJECTIVE: Work-related upper limb disorder (WRULD) encompasses a broad array of occupational upper limb injuries, the most common being carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Carpal tunnel syndrome occasionally presents with concomitant ganglion cysts. The purpose of this case report is to describe the chiropractic management of a patient with bilateral WRULD complicated by ganglion cysts. CLINICAL FEATURES: The patient was diagnosed previously with bilateral CTS and presented with common CTS symptoms that were nonresponsive to several previous courses of care...

OBJECTIVE: To compare results of typing endurance and pain before and after a standardized functional test. DESIGN: A standardized previously published typing test on a standard QWERTY keyboard. SETTING: An outpatient hospital environment. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-one keyboard and mouse operating patients with WRULD and six normal controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pain severity before and after the test, typing endurance and speed were recorded...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of work- and treatment-related factors on clinical status and functional disability in patients with non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD). PARTICIPANTS: 182 computer workers with non-specific WRULD, 18-50 years old, not having specific WRULD nor incomplete medical records. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study among computer workers with non-specific WRULD; average follow-up 4 years. Medical records at time of diagnosis and during treatment period and a follow-up questionnaire were used...

In computer workers psychological factors and physical fitness may play an important role in the onset and course of non-specific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) beyond socio-demographic factors. Based on our experiences in daily practice we assumed that pain catastrophizing and other psychological variables such as perfectionism, anxiety state and trait, and low physical fitness, are possibly associated with the occurrence of WRULD. We aim to study the association between pain catastrophizing, perfectionism, anxiety (state and trait), physical fitness, sex and level of education and the occurrence of WRULD, controlling for age as a confounder...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the course of nonspecific work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) and the influence of sociodemographic factors, psychologic factors, and physical fitness on clinical status and functional disability. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study with cross-sectional analysis among computer workers with several stages of nonspecific WRULD; average follow-up 4 years. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were assessed based on medical records at onset and diagnosis...

Contact centres are vehicles for a rapidly growing group of knowledge workers, or eWorkers. Using computers and high-speed telecommunications connections as work tools, these employees spend long hours performing mentally demanding work while maintaining static, physically stressful, seated positions. The complex interplay between job demands, work environment, and individual differences combine to produce high levels of physical discomfort among eWorkers. This paper discusses a new view that has emerged, one that focuses on the management rather than the elimination of work related upper limb disorders (WRULD) and computer vision syndrome (CVS) issues that are prevalent among eWorkers...