Quantitative Measures of Physical Risk Factors Associated with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Elbow: A Systematic Review

David H. Seidel, Dirk M. Ditchen, Ulrike M. Hoehne-Hückstädt, Monika A. Rieger and Benjamin Steinhilber
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David H. Seidel: University Hospital Tuebingen, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research (IASV), 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
Dirk M. Ditchen: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Unit Ergonomics, Referat Ergonomie, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Ulrike M. Hoehne-Hückstädt: Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Unit Ergonomics, Referat Ergonomie, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Monika A. Rieger: University Hospital Tuebingen, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research (IASV), 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
Benjamin Steinhilber: University Hospital Tuebingen, Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research (IASV), 72074 Tuebingen, Germany

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders at the elbow are a common health problem, which highly impacts workers’ well-being and performance. Besides existing qualitative information, there is a clear lack of quantitative information of physical risk factors associated with specific disorders at the elbow (SDEs). Objective: To provide evidence-based quantitative measures of physical risk factors associated with SDEs. Methods: Studies were searched from 2007 to 2017 in Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Work. The identified risk factors were grouped in main- and sub-categories of exposure using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework for rating evidence. Results: 133 different risk-factor specifications were identified in 10/524 articles and were grouped into 5 main- and 16 sub-categories of exposure. The risk factors were significantly associated with lateral epicondylitis, medial epicondylitis, or ulnar neuropathy. Significant risk factors such as wrist angular velocity (5°/s, with increasing prevalence ratio of 0.10%/(°/s), or forearm supination (≥45° and ≥5% of time combined with forceful lifting) were found. Conclusions: This review delivers a categorization of work-related physical risk-factor specifications for SDEs with a special focus on quantitative measures, ranked for evidence. These results may build the base for developing risk assessment methods and prospective preventive measures.

Keywords: elbow disorders; epicondylitis; ulnar neuropathy; quantitative measures; physical risk factors; work-related; force; repetition; posture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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