Shoulder tendinitis and its relation to heavy manual work and exposure to vibration

Three categories of construction industry workers (54 bricklayers, 55 rockblasters, and 98 foremen) were compared in a cross-sectional study. In a structured interview they reported exposure to loads lifted, vibration, and years of manual work. They were also subjected to a clinical investigation including medical history and a detailed shoulder examination. Among the rockblasters 33% had signs of tendinitis in the left and 40% in the right shoulder. Among the bricklayers and foremen 8-17% had signs of shoulder tendinitis. In a multiple logistic regression being a rockblaster compared with being a foreman showed an odds ratio (OR) of 3.33 for left-sided and 1.71 for right-sided shoulder tendinitis. Vibration exposure yielded an OR of 1.84 and 1.66 for the left and right sides, respectively. Vibration exposure or work as a rockblaster seemed to be risk indicators for tendinitis of the shoulders.