[Quantitative characteristics of the causes of functional overstrain of the hands]

Functional studies of hands strain covered 2351 women who performed multiple manual maneuvers with absent, mild and moderate efforts. Considered reasons of the functional strain were: number of the maneuvers per shift, applied efforts, work intensity, length of service, previous work hardiness, hand efforts beyond the worktime, specific traits of workers (age, health state). Functional strain of hands was assessed by means of an Articular Pain Index which is general evaluation of severity, intensity and frequency of pain in hand joints. The authors suggest norms for allowable and hazardous quantity of hand maneuvers in accordance with their structure.