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Upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and work exposures among railroad maintenance‐of‐way workers
Author(s) -
Landsbergis Paul,
Johanning Eckardt,
Stillo Marco,
Jain Rahul,
Davis Michelle
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.23259
Subject(s) - medicine , carpal tunnel syndrome , physical therapy , wrist , shoulders , confidence interval , elbow , poisson regression , odds ratio , musculoskeletal disorder , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , population , emergency medicine , environmental health
Background Our objective was to examine occupational risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands among railroad maintenance‐of‐way (MOW) workers. Little systematic research on musculoskeletal disorders has been conducted in this occupational group. Methods In total, 3995 active members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) completed a standardized survey focusing on disorders caused by hand‐transmitted vibration. We computed adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) using Poisson regression for shoulder, elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and vibration white finger musculoskeletal symptoms by work exposures, adjusted for age, region, race/ethnicity, smoking, potential second job, and spare time vehicle vibration exposure, and other work exposures. Results Among active male BMWED members, we found associations between >5.2 years (vs. 0.0–0.7 years) duration of full‐time equivalent power tool use and shoulder pain (aPR = 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–2.85), elbow pain (aPR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.86–4.46), vibration white finger symptoms (aPR = 2.49; 95% CI, 1.06–5.85), hand/wrist pain (aPR = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.74–3.32), finger numbness or tingling (aPR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.38–2.50) and self‐reported carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis (aPR = 2.16; 95% CI, 1.24–3.77). Associations were not consistent across outcomes for the duration of non‐powered hand tool use and “repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending.” Positive gradients were observed for most outcomes. Conclusions Hand‐arm vibration and some other biomechanical exposures were associated with shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and finger symptoms. Prevention programs should address occupational risk factors for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among MOW workers.