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Epicondylitis among cooks in nursery schools
Y Ono1, R Nakamura, M Shimaoka
1Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Aichi-prefecture, Japan.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|June 13, 1998
Summary
Nursery school cooks have a higher prevalence of epicondylitis due to strenuous hand and arm tasks. Risk factors are multifactorial, including mechanical workload and psychosocial stressors.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
Background:
- Epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow, is a painful condition affecting the tendons around the elbow.
- Nursery school cooks may be at increased risk due to demanding physical tasks involving repetitive hand and arm movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of epicondylitis among nursery school cooks.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with epicondylitis in this occupational group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 209 nursery school cooks and 366 controls (women aged 40-59).
- Data collected through questionnaires and clinical examinations assessing tenderness and pain in the epicondyles.
- Statistical analysis, including logistic regression, was used to identify associations.
Main Results:
- Nursery school cooks exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of epicondylitis (11.5%) compared to controls (2.5%).
- The job title of 'cook' was strongly associated with epicondylitis (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.4-11.9), even after adjusting for covariates.
- Mechanical workload and psychosocial stressors showed weaker associations with epicondylitis.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the hypothesis that nursery school cooks have an elevated risk of epicondylitis.
- Findings suggest that epicondylitis in this population is likely influenced by a combination of mechanical and psychosocial factors.
- Interventions targeting workload and stress may be beneficial for prevention.