Open AccessNew avenues in research on musculoskeletal disorders
Author(s) -
Eira ViikariJuntura,
Hilkka Riihimäki
Publication year - 1999
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.481
Subject(s) - psychosocial , epidemiology , disease , panorama , medicine , etiology , clinical psychology , cognition , psychology , gerontology , environmental health , psychiatry , pathology , computer science , computer vision
Recent reviews on musculoskeletal disorders have clearly pointed out the need for more good-quality original research. Both symptom-based and objective outcome assessment methods should be improved. A variety of methods exists to assess exposure for short-term outcomes, whereas exposure assessment strategies for outcomes with long induction times should be developed. The change in exposure patterns--less force demands, more static, visual, cognitive, psychological and social load--will continue during the next millennium, and a likely result is a change in the disease panorama. The pathomechanisms of the effects of low-level static contractions and adverse psychosocial conditions need clarification. Genetic epidemiology is an emerging field of research, and it will be particularly interesting to study the interaction between genetically determined susceptibility and occupational risk factors. Because degeneration of the spine starts in adolescence, the importance of studying the etiology of degenerative disorders among young populations is emphasized.