Open AccessOccupation as a risk factor for knee disorders
Author(s) -
Louise Kruse Jensen,
Winnie Eenberg
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.127
Subject(s) - kneeling , squatting position , medicine , bursitis , chondromalacia , physical therapy , surgery , arthroscopy , pathology , alternative medicine
The objective of the present study was to review the literature on the risk of knee disorders in connection with kneeling or squatting work and heavy physical work. A systematic review of the literature revealed 19 controlled studies on this correlation: 16 on osteoarthrosis, 5 on bursitis, 3 on meniscal lesions, and 0 on chondromalacia. All the studies demonstrated a significantly increased prevalence of knee osteoarthrosis (all degrees) for subjects with kneeling or squatting work. The prevalence ratio in most of these studies was between 1.4 and 4. Four of eight studies demonstrated a significantly increased prevalence of knee osteoarthrosis in subjects with heavy physical work. The prevalence ratio in most of these studies was between 1.4 and 4.1. All the studies on bursitis showed an increased prevalence of bursitis in subjects with kneeling work. Occupational exposure could not be sufficiently documented as the cause of meniscal lesions and chondromalacia.