[Occupational overuse injury syndromes of the lower extremities] ]

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and significance of overstretching of the lower limbs in working population. Occupational etiopathogenic factors are often similar to those in sports and involve frequent repetition of single movements which cause microtraumas to the bone/joint/muscular system including the lower limbs. The resulting pain is described as the overuse syndrome. Literature reports significantly less data on working population than on athletes. This retrospective epidemiological study investigated two groups of patients. The first group consisted of 120 workers who had been on sick leave for a longer time and underwent disability review within the period of one year. The second group consisted of 86 patients in general practice who were on sick leave in one month. One third of the patients on sick leave were found one or more diseases of bone/joint/muscular system. Of patients with the overuse syndrome two were found in the first group, and two in the second. In both groups, the overuse syndrome came fourth in incidence. The results are lower than expected, particularly in athletes. The paper discusses possible reasons for these results, such as test sensitivity and criteria.