Management of work-relevant upper limb disorders: a review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Upper limb disorders (ULDs) present significant clinical challenges and lead to substantial work absence.
• Effective management strategies for ULDs are needed to reduce work loss and improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify evidence-based management strategies for work-related ULDs.
• To evaluate the appropriateness of a biopsychosocial approach for ULD management.

Main Methods:

• A best evidence synthesis literature review was conducted.
• Systematic searching of electronic databases and citation tracking identified relevant articles.
• Extracted data were synthesized into evidence statements focusing on classification, epidemiology, risks, and management for return to work.

Main Results:

• Neither solely biomedical treatments nor ergonomic interventions are optimal; multimodal interventions show promise for occupational outcomes.
• Early return to work or work retention is a key goal, supported by transitional work arrangements.
• Successful management necessitates coordinated efforts involving employers and workers.

Conclusions:

• A biopsychosocial model is applicable, with psychosocial factors significantly influencing occupational outcomes.
• Addressing psychosocial issues requires a cultural shift in understanding the work-ULDis relationship.
• Disseminating evidence-based messages can facilitate this necessary cultural change.