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Cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive strain injuries. The future
1Department of Surgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine at Wichita, USA.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|July 1, 1998
Summary
Cumulative trauma disorders cause over half of all workplace injuries. Prevention is the best strategy for reducing these common occupational injuries until more research clarifies specific causes and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ergonomics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) represent a significant portion of occupational injuries, impacting 15-20% of Americans.
- Projections indicated a substantial rise in annual occupational injuries and associated costs by the year 2000.
Observation:
- There is a consensus on the necessity of reducing CTDs in the workplace.
- However, definitions, etiological models, and specific exposure-response relationships for CTDs remain areas of disagreement.
Findings:
- Insights into the future of CTDs in the U.S. can be gleaned from the treatment and natural history observed in other countries.
- Lack of specific dose-response data hinders precise identification of individual and job-related risk factors.
Implications:
- Until further research elucidates specific exposure relationships, workplace prevention strategies are paramount for managing CTDs.
- The high prevalence and cost underscore the urgent need for standardized definitions and research into ergonomic and epidemiologic models.