Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among Service and Manufacturing Workers with Repetitive Motion Tasks

Kim

Kang

et al. 2019

Ann Occup Environ Med

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the basic characteristics of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and its differences between occupations using Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI) and National Employment Insurance (NEI). Methods: The study participants were obtained from the NEI and NHI data from 2008 to 2015, with a diagnosis code of G560 (CTS) as the main or sub-diagnosis. Data about gender, age, diabetes mellitus, smoking, drinking, and length of employment, information about type of occupation, and number of employees according to age and occupation were obtained from NHI and NEI data. In total, 240 occupations were classified into blue-collar (BC) and white-collar (WC) work. In addition, each occupation was classified as high-risk and low-risk groups depending on the degree of wrist usage. Results: The number of patients with CTS per 100,000 individuals increased with advancing age, and it was higher in women (4,572.2) than in men (1,798.5). Furthermore, the number was higher in BC workers (3,247.5) than in WC workers (1,824.1) as well as in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group in both BC workers (3,527.8 vs. 1,908.2) and WC workers (1,829.9 vs. 1,754.4). The number of patients with CTS was higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group among male and female BC workers and female WC workers. However, the number was higher in the low-risk group among male WC workers. In the BC category, the number of patients with CTS was highest among food processing-related workers (19,984.5). In the WC category, the number of patients with CTS was highest among social workers and counselors (7,444.1). Conclusions: The results of this study are expected to help identify occupational differences in patterns of CTS. High number of patients with CTS was seen in new jobs, as well as in previous studies.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of age, gender, and occupation among individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome based on the National Health Insurance data and National Employment Insurance data

Kim

Kang

et al. 2019

Ann Occup Environ Med

“…The authors also reported a meaningful correlation between CTS occurrence and age, height, smoking and diabetes mellitus. Also, the prevalence rates of CTS in workers with repetitive motion tasks and patients with diabetes mellitus were reported in other previous studies in South Korea . According to the foreign surveys of the CTS incidence rates in the general population, 3.46 per 1000 person‐years in Minnesota was reported by Nordstrom et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

The incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

et al. 2014

Int J Rheum Dis

“…Exclusion criteria were 1) any limitations in upper extremity movement or a history of upper extremity orthopedic and neurological problems in the past 6 months and 2) had a positive Phalen's or Finkelstein test [7,8].…”

Section: Participants and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in upper limb muscle activity during smartphone usage while in stable and unstable positions and during gait

Kim

et al. 2018

PTRS

The objective of this study was to describe the influence of smartphone usage on the upper limb muscles while in stable and unstable positions and during gait. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study was conducted with 20 right-handed university students between 20 and 27 years of age. Experiments were carried out on students who have used cell phones for more than a year. In this study, experiments were performed with one-handed and two-handed smartphone operations while on stable ground, and the same parameters were measured during smartphone use on unstable ground and during gait. Subjects were instructed to write a text message in Korean on the smartphone for 3 minutes. This was repeated 3 times, with a rest period of 10 seconds given between each 3-minute period. Electromyography was used to record the muscle activity of the upper trapezius, extensor carpi radialis, extensor pollicis longus, and abductor pollicis (AP) during phone operation. Results: The muscle activity value for the right AP in one-handed and the left-AP in two-handed operations was statistically higher than the other muscles in the stable position and during gait (p<0.0001). Also, the right AP in the one-handed operation condition was statistically higher than the two-handed condition (p<0.0001). Conclusions: The use of smartphones while in a stable position resulted in high muscle activity of the right upper limb AP. However, in an unstable position, there were no significant differences from the other muscle activities. Using smartphone while assuming various positions may lead to musculoskeletal disorders in different places.