Snap-fits and upper limb functional limitations in German automotive workers

Ohlander, Johan; Keskin, Mekail-Cem; Weiler, Stephan; Stork, Joachim; Radon, Katja

doi:10.1093/occmed/kqw050

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Being men, with ages between 30 and 40 years, with an average of 15 years working in the same company, were the most common characteristics in this survey, in agreement with other studies (Ferguson, Marras, Allread, Knapik, & Splittstoesser, 2012;Gold et al, 2009;Kitis et al, 2009;Menegon & Fischer, 2012;Ohlander, Keskin, Weiler, Stork, & Radon, 2016;Pullopdissakul et al, 2013). Regarding musculoskeletal symptoms, despite the different methods and criteria used, neck and upper limbs were also the most reported body areas, as in other studies (Colombini & Occhipinti, 2006;Eatough et al, 2012;Eerd et al, 2016;Gold et al, 2009;Kitis et al, 2009;Sundstrup et al, 2013b).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

An analysis on neck and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in Portuguese automotive assembly line workers

Guerreiro

Serranheira

Cruz

et al. 2017

IJOOES

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Assembly lines are related to health risks and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), particularly of the neck and upper limbs (WULMSD). The assessment of perceived musculoskeletal symptoms is essential to WULMSD prevention, but studies in this field are lacking. A cross sectional survey on assembly line workers (n=270) was performed. The objective of this study was to analyze the frequency and distribution of upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in assembly line workers. Participants were predominantly men, with ages between 30 and 40 years. Neck and upper limbs pain/discomfort were the most reported symptoms (35.9%), with intensity predominantly moderate or severe. General Health Status and past musculoskeletal injury were the variables more related to the existence of musculoskeletal symptoms; longer working life in the same company, as under 5 years, were related to higher intensity of symptoms. An early identification of musculoskeletal symptoms and health surveillance over time is of most importance to develop WRULMSD prevention measures.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

An analysis on neck and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in Portuguese automotive assembly line workers

Guerreiro

Serranheira

Cruz

et al. 2017

IJOOES

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“…The design of our cross-sectional study with a control group, physical examination of the subjects, and the use of a questionnaire can be found in several studies related to different industries. Our literature research showed a prevalence of upper extremity pain (i.e., symptoms) of between 21% and 71% in the study group and between 6% and 50% in the control group [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68]. This is in line with our investigation where symptoms were reported in the first questionnaire by 8/20 (40%) grinders, 14/24 (58%) packers, and 11/26 (42%) people in the control group.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Symptoms and Diagnosessupporting

confidence: 90%

“…It has been shown that musculoskeletal disorders in different body regions are associated with different branches of industry. Lateral epicondylitis, wrist tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are considered the most common diseases [57,[60][61][62]64,70]. In our investigation, 30% of all test persons and 54% of the subjects with upper extremity complaints had signs of medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) and nerve entrapment at the medial elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome), followed by lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) in 14% and 27%, respectively.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Symptoms and Diagnosesmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…In most studies, only the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity were described, instead of additionally identifying pathognomonic clinical signs (i.e., diagnoses). In the latter the prevalence has ranged from 21% to 56% compared to 5% to 22% in the control group [57,58,[60][61][62]64]. Upper limb musculoskeletal disorders were diagnosed in 14/20 (70%) grinders, 13/24 (54%) packers, and 11/26 (42%) of the test persons in the control group for our investigation, with bilateral manifestation in approximately one third of cases.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Symptoms and Diagnosesmentioning

confidence: 57%

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Is Repetitive Workload a Risk Factor for Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Surgical Device Mechanics? A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Lotter¹,

Lieb²,

Breul³

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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To assess the prevalence of upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among surgical device mechanics compared to a control group, a total of 70 employees were included and assigned to three occupational groups (grinders, packers, and control). Personal factors, work exposure, manual skill, and complaints were assessed by two self-administered questionnaires and an industry test. WMSDs were diagnosed in a standardised clinical examination. The two-one-sided t-tests (TOST) procedure was used to test the clinical equivalence of the respective grinding and packaging groups vs. the control group in terms of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. Thirty-nine study participants (56%) experienced at least one WMSD at the elbow, forearm, and/or wrist, mainly with signs of epicondylitis and nerve entrapment at the medial elbow. The risk of grinders developing upper extremity WMSD was about 2.5-times higher and packers had an 8.6-fold higher risk of a clinically relevant DASH > 29 compared to the control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant. The groups were also proven to be clinically equivalent in terms of DASH score. Surgical device mechanics do not seem to have worse DASH values or be at higher risk of upper limb WMSDs compared to a control group. This is the first study to analyse and compare different workplaces in this industry that are also common in other industries.

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“…Because of physical feedback and the risk of destruction of common soft objects, automated installation is not possible. Because the use of tools like a hammer is unfeasible as well, workers are required to strike or press firmly with their hands (Ohlander, Keskin, Weiler, Stork, & Radon, ). As a consequence, workers are commonly exposed to high impacts to the base of the palm or the hypothenar of the fist, which constitute relevant risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs; Cochran, Shinde, Ding, Wiley, & Stentz, ; Ge, Alkhaledi, Cochran, & Amar, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hand as hammer: A comprehensive review of biomechanical studies related to occupational hand strikes

Hausmanninger

Komnik

Potthast

2019

Hum Ftrs & Erg Mfg Svc

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A growing number of workers in modern automotive assembly plants are confronted with occupational tasks involving repeated high-impact hand strikes. Such repetitive physical workloads account for diseases of soft tissues or musculoskeletal disorders in the hand, wrist, or entire upper body. The purpose of this review was to identify and discuss the most pertinent occupational and physiological investigations concerning such hand strikes with particular emphasis on the biomechanical parameters examined. Articles were drawn from four databases to identify publications about occupational hand strikes. First, studies were selected that evaluated hand impact loads measured with the help of force measurement devices.For a deeper understanding of biomechanical factors regarding hand impacts, the scope of the search was extended to include ancillary studies about impacts on wrists or elbows. Overall, 945 abstracts were screened, and five full-text articles were included in the final review. In addition, 34 ancillary articles about impact stress on the hand-arm complex were discussed because of positive relations between high forces, repetition rates or acceleration, and progressing stress in the hand-arm complex identified in studies about critical biomechanical load limits, in the field of fall arrests and sports, i.e. tennis. Furthermore, studies about effective arm movements and body postures during hand strikes as used in martial arts were reviewed. Although certain biomechanical parameters are both known and well documented, studies available at present cannot sufficiently account for specific disorders in the wrist or arm that are triggered by occupational hand strikes.

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Snap-fits and upper limb functional limitations in German automotive workers

Abstract: Our study suggests a negative long-term impact from snap-fit assembly on workers' upper limb function. Company physicians should be vigilant for signs of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among workers exposed to snap-fit assembly.

Cited by 11 publications

References 12 publications

An analysis on neck and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in Portuguese automotive assembly line workers

An analysis on neck and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms in Portuguese automotive assembly line workers

Is Repetitive Workload a Risk Factor for Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Surgical Device Mechanics? A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Hand as hammer: A comprehensive review of biomechanical studies related to occupational hand strikes

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