Writers cramp in office workers-an epidemiologic and psychosomatic study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Writers cramp is a focal dystonia affecting individuals performing fine motor tasks.
• The role of psychological factors in the etiology of writers cramp requires further investigation.
• Office workers are a population susceptible to repetitive strain injuries and associated psychological stressors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of writers cramp among office workers in Kanpur.
• To determine the relationship between emotional factors and the development of writers cramp.
• To compare the psychological profiles of writers cramp patients with control groups.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted across ten major offices in Kanpur.
• A population of 3,325 office workers was assessed.
• Writers cramp cases (n=18) were compared with normal and diseased control groups using the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Writers cramp cases exhibited significantly higher scores on all Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire subscales compared to controls.
• A higher percentage of writers cramp cases (66.70%) reported significant emotional stress.
• Severe maladjustment was the most frequent disturbance noted in writers cramp cases (38.9%).

Conclusions:

• Emotional stress and maladjustment are significantly associated with writers cramp in office workers.
• Psychological factors play a crucial role in the manifestation of writers cramp.
• Targeted interventions addressing emotional well-being may be beneficial for preventing and managing writers cramp.