WORK ACCIDENTS
Elbow injury data

Data on work accidents and elbow injury . . .

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Over 20 epidemiologic studies have examined physical workplace factors and their relationship to elbow injuries (epicondylitis). The majority of studies involved study populations exposed to some combination of work factors, but among these studies were also those that assessed specific work factors. Each of the studies examined (those with negative, positive, or equivocal findings) contributed to the overall pool of data to make our decision on the strength of work-relatedness. Using epidemiologic criteria to examine these studies, and taking into account issues of confounding, bias, and strengths and limitations of the studies, we conclude the following:

There is insufficient evidence for support of an association between repetitive work and elbow musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) based on currently available epidemiologic data. No studies having repetitive work as the dominant exposure factor met the four epidemiologic criteria.

There is evidence for the association with forceful work and epicondylitis. Studies that base exposure assessment on quantitative or semiquantitative data tended to show a stronger relationship for epicondylitis and force. Eight studies fulfilling at least one criteria showed statistically significant relationships.

There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the relationship of postural factors alone and epicondylitis at this time.

There is strong evidence for a relationship between exposure to a combination of risk factors (e.g., force and repetition, force and posture) and epicondylitis. Based on the epidemiologic studies reviewed above, especially those with some quantitative evaluation of the risk factors, the evidence is clear that an exposure to a combination of exposures, especially at higher exposure levels (as can be seen in, for example, meatpacking or construction work) increases risk for epicondylitis. The one prospective study which had a combination of exposure factors had a particularly high incidence rate (6.7), and illustrated a temporal relationship between physical exposure factors and epicondylitis.

The strong evidence for a combination of factors is consistent with evidence found in the sports and biomechanical literature. Studies outside the field of epidemiology also suggest that forceful and repetitive contraction of the elbow flexors or extensors (which can be caused by flexion and extension of the wrist) increases the risk of epicondylitis.

Epidemiologic surveillance data, both nationally and internationally, have consistently reported that the highest incidence of epicondylitis occurs in occupations and job tasks which are manually intensive and require high work demands in dynamic environments—for example, in mechanics, butchers, construction workers, and boilermakers.

Epicondylar tenderness has also been found to be associated with a combination of higher levels of forceful exertions, repetition, and extreme postures of the elbow. This distinction may not be a true demarcation ofdifferent disease processes, but part of a continuum. Some data indicate that a high percentage of individuals with severe elbow pain are not able to do their jobs, and they have a higher rate of sick leave than individuals with other upper extremity disorders.

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see also:

Elbow Injury Work Accidents: Elbow Injury - Musculoskeletal Disorders
Elbow Injury - Musculoskeletal Disorders: Evidence for Work Accidents

Shoulder Injury Work Accidents: Shoulder Injury - Musculoskeletal Disorders
Shoulder Injury - Musculoskeletal Disorders: Evidence for Work Accidents

Occupational Injury Personal Injury Lawyer: Types of Occupational Injuries
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