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Masci F, Spatari G, Giorgianni CM, Antonangeli LM, D’Arrigo A, Biasina AM, Priori A, Colosio C. Occupational hand and wrist disorders among forestry workers: An exposed-control study to investigate preventive strategies. Work 2022; 72:1249-1257. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-205034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the arboriculture sector, some activities are still manually performed by forestry workers, which result consequently exposed to a high risk of developing muscle skeletal disorders. The Italian Compensation Authority reported an increase of work-related tendinopathies and carpal tunnel syndrome in loggers, but screening protocols are not available yet. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were: a) to evaluate the prevalence of tendinopathies and carpal tunnel syndrome in a sample of loggers and b) identify a sound screening approach. METHODS: 41 loggers and 41 paired control workers were recruited for a total of 164 hands. The protocol included 1) demographic data; 2) medical history; 3) identification of CTS symptoms through a questionnaire and a hand-chart; 4) upper limbs clinical examination; 5) Raynaud’s diseases questionnaire; 6) wrists ultrasound; 7) NCS of the distal median nerve. RESULTS: The prevalence of tendinopathies was statistically significant only in the non-dominant hand (75, 5% in the exposed group and 53, 6% in the non-exposed group). The prevalence of CTS was 32, 2% in the exposed group and 15, 5% in the non-exposed group. The questionnaire had a sensitivity of 56, 7% and a specificity of 75%. The hand-chart had a sensitivity of 30% and a specificity of 92%. The clinical examination had sensitivity of 30% and specificity of 80%. The ultrasound had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 56%. CONCLUSIONS: Loggers are a population at risk of occupational hand and wrist disorders. The hand-chart could be considered, together with the questionnaire, as the best secondary prevention tool to diagnose CTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Masci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy, International Centre for Rural Health, Occupational Health Unit, Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanna Spatari
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetto Mario Giorgianni
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Maria Antonangeli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy, International Centre for Rural Health, Occupational Health Unit, Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Alberto Priori
- “Aldo Ravelli” Research Center, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Colosio
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy, International Centre for Rural Health, Occupational Health Unit, Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
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Masci F, Spatari G, Giorgianni CM, Pernigotti E, Antonangeli LM, Bordoni V, Magenta Biasina A, Pietrogrande L, Colosio C. Hand-Wrist Disorders in Chainsaw Operators: A Follow-Up Study in a Group of Italian Loggers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18147217. [PMID: 34299668 PMCID: PMC8307102 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the mechanization process implemented in arboriculture, logging tasks are still manually performed by chainsaw operators, which therefore are exposed to the risk of developing hand-wrist musculoskeletal disorders. Our research aimed to: (a) define whether the slight changes observed in 2017 showed an evolution to overt diseases; (b) study some risk determinants for these diseases such as age, working experience, and performing a secondary job. We recruited in a two-year follow-up study, 38 male forestry workers performing logging tasks employed in the Sicilian Forestry Department located in Enna. All the subjects underwent: (1) personal data collection; (2) administration of questionnaire addressed at upper limbs symptoms with a hand chart; (3) physical examination of the upper limbs, including Tinel’s and Phalen’s maneuvers; (4) ultrasound investigation of the hand-wrist area. In the two-year follow-up study we registered an overall increasing in wrist disorders, thus we can assume that forestry workers may be a target population for wrist diseases and deserve a particular attention in workers’ health surveillance programs. Interestingly, the prevalence of wrist-hand disorders resulted to be higher in younger workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Masci
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milano and International Centre for Rural Health of the Occupational Health Unit of the Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milano, Italy; (L.M.A.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giovanna Spatari
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.S.); (C.M.G.)
| | - Concetto Mario Giorgianni
- Department of Biomedical, Dental and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.S.); (C.M.G.)
| | - Elisa Pernigotti
- Post Graduate School in Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy;
| | - Laura Maria Antonangeli
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milano and International Centre for Rural Health of the Occupational Health Unit of the Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milano, Italy; (L.M.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Vittorio Bordoni
- Post Graduate School in Occupational Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milano, Italy;
| | - Alberto Magenta Biasina
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology School of Santi Paolo and Carlo ASST of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy;
| | - Luca Pietrogrande
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milano, Italy;
| | - Claudio Colosio
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milano and International Centre for Rural Health of the Occupational Health Unit of the Hospitals Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milano, Italy; (L.M.A.); (C.C.)
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Masci F, Rosecrance J, Mixco A, Cortinovis I, Calcante A, Mandic-Rajcevic S, Colosio C. Personal and occupational factors contributing to biomechanical risk of the distal upper limb among dairy workers in the Lombardy region of Italy. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2020; 83:102796. [PMID: 30611466 PMCID: PMC9531529 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Biomechanical overload in the wrist flexor and extensor muscles, together with awkward hand positions during work activities, can result in occupational wrist and hand disorders. Dairy workers, specifically those that work in the milking parlor, are exposed to highly repetitive and forceful exertions of the upper limb throughout their work shift. There are very few studies that have investigated the determinants that contribute to the risk of distal upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among dairy workers. The purpose of the present study was to identify the variables affecting the biomechanical overload of the distal upper limb among milking parlor workers, define risk profiles, and propose possible interventions to reduce the high physical loads to the distal upper limb during milking activities. Forty male workers from the three most common milking parlor systems in Lombardy Italy were recruited to participate in this study. Multiple correspondence analysis of personal characteristics and occupational risk factors, followed by cluster analysis, led to the identification of three distinct groups of workers. Low, medium and high risk profiles were assigned to each group based on the risk assessments performed using the Strain Index and electromyography of the distal upper limb. The main risk determinants were workstation characteristics, work organization and milking routine. A well-organized milking routine, milking cluster weight below 2.4 kg or the use of supporting arms for the milking cluster may reduce the risk of biomechanical overload.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Masci
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Center for Rural Health of Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - J Rosecrance
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - A Mixco
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - I Cortinovis
- Laboratory "G.A. Maccacaro", Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A Calcante
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - S Mandic-Rajcevic
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Center for Rural Health of Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - C Colosio
- Department of Health Sciences of the University of Milan and International Center for Rural Health of Santi Paolo e Carlo Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Masci F, Crespi E, Pernigotti E, Tassoni M, Rosecrance J, Colosio C. Carpal tunnel syndrome among milking parlor workers in Northern Italy: a comparison of screening approaches. LA MEDICINA DEL LAVORO 2019; 110:271-277. [PMID: 31475688 PMCID: PMC7809995 DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v110i4.8359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background: Occupational tasks characterized by repetitive, awkward and forceful movements of the hand and wrist may heighten the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among dairy parlor workers. Median nerve impairment can be investigated with ultrasonography (US) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) but a structured questionnaire may help identify early symptoms. Objectives: Our objectives were to: a) compare the sensitivity of US investigations and NCS to detect early signs of CTS; b) explore the correlation of the results of these two tests with CTS symptoms obtained from the administration of a targeted questionnaire. Methods: Forty male milking parlor workers were recruited. The study protocol included: 1) the identification of characteristic CTS symptoms through a targeted questionnaire; 2) US imaging of the carpal tunnel inlet (using a portable ultrasound device; 3) NCS of the distal median nerve. Results: The symptom questionnaire was considered positive if at least one CTS symptom was present within two weeks prior to the examination. The symptom questionnaire showed a high level of specificity (92,6%) and sensitivity (61%) when compared with NCS results. Ultrasound results revealed a prevalence of median neuropathy of 55%, but when compared to NCS, the ultrasound showed quite low predictive values (NPV of 37% and PPV of 38%). Discussion: The symptom questionnaire was associated with the median nerve pathology often seen in CTS. Moreover, the study results have shown the questionnaire to be the most effective screening method when compared to ultrasound.
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Alkahtani MS, Ramadan MZ, Alshaikh KA, Aljaweeni AA, Altuwaijri AS. Development and experimental verification of an ergonomic shopping bag handle. Work 2018; 61:101-112. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-182786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed S. Alkahtani
- Department of Industrial Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Raytheon Chair for Systems Engineering (RCSE Chair), Advanced Manufacturing Institute, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Z. Ramadan
- Department of Industrial Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled A. Alshaikh
- Department of Industrial Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ahmad S. Altuwaijri
- Department of Industrial Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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