OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between manipulative dexterity and vibration exposure, ergonomic risk factors, and upper limb disorders in a group of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV). METHODS: Manipulative dexterity was investigated on 115 HTV workers (82 forestry workers and 33 stone workers) and 64 control men over 1-year follow-up period. The Purdue pegboard method was used to test manipulative dexterity which was scored for the dominant hand, non-dominant hand, and both hands. Information about individual, work and health history was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Vibration exposure was assessed in terms of tool vibration magnitudes, daily and total exposure duration, and cumulative vibration dose. RESULTS: On the cross-sectional investigation, Purdue pegboard scores were significantly lower in the HTV workers than in the controls (0.001 < P < 0.05). Over 1-year follow-up period, Purdue pegboard scores were found to be inversely related to age, smoking and use of vibratory tools (0.001 < P < 0.05). Moreover, deterioration of some measures of manipulative dexterity was significantly associated with sensorineural and vascular symptoms in the fingers of the HTV workers. Random-intercept linear regression analysis showed that Purdue pegboard scores decreased with the increase of vibration exposure. The reduction of assembly score (i.e. number of pins, collars, and washers assembled in a 60-s period) was significantly associated with the increase in vibration exposure and ergonomic stress (neck-upper arm posture, hand-intensive work, and total ergonomic score). Purdue pegboard scores tended to improve over the follow-up period in both the controls and the HTV workers, suggesting a possible learning effect over time. CONCLUSION: The findings of this longitudinal study suggest an association between deterioration of manipulative dexterity and neurovascular symptoms in the fingers of HTV workers. There was evidence for a significant relation between loss of precise manipulation and exposures to hand-transmitted vibration and ergonomic risk factors.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between manipulative dexterity and vibration exposure, ergonomic risk factors, and upper limb disorders in a group of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV). METHODS: Manipulative dexterity was investigated on 115 HTV workers (82 forestry workers and 33 stone workers) and 64 control men over 1-year follow-up period. The Purdue pegboard method was used to test manipulative dexterity which was scored for the dominant hand, non-dominant hand, and both hands. Information about individual, work and health history was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Vibration exposure was assessed in terms of tool vibration magnitudes, daily and total exposure duration, and cumulative vibration dose. RESULTS: On the cross-sectional investigation, Purdue pegboard scores were significantly lower in the HTV workers than in the controls (0.001 < P < 0.05). Over 1-year follow-up period, Purdue pegboard scores were found to be inversely related to age, smoking and use of vibratory tools (0.001 < P < 0.05). Moreover, deterioration of some measures of manipulative dexterity was significantly associated with sensorineural and vascular symptoms in the fingers of the HTV workers. Random-intercept linear regression analysis showed that Purdue pegboard scores decreased with the increase of vibration exposure. The reduction of assembly score (i.e. number of pins, collars, and washers assembled in a 60-s period) was significantly associated with the increase in vibration exposure and ergonomic stress (neck-upper arm posture, hand-intensive work, and total ergonomic score). Purdue pegboard scores tended to improve over the follow-up period in both the controls and the HTV workers, suggesting a possible learning effect over time. CONCLUSION: The findings of this longitudinal study suggest an association between deterioration of manipulative dexterity and neurovascular symptoms in the fingers of HTV workers. There was evidence for a significant relation between loss of precise manipulation and exposures to hand-transmitted vibration and ergonomic risk factors.
Authors: G Lundborg; L B Dahlin; N Danielsen; H A Hansson; L E Necking; I Pyykkö Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 1987-08 Impact factor: 5.024
Authors: Riitta Sauni; Pauliina Toivio; Rauno Pääkkönen; Jari Malmström; Jukka Uitti Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2015-02-21 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Asraf Ahmad Qamruddin; Nik Rosmawati Nik Husain; Mohd Yusof Sidek; Muhd Hafiz Hanafi; Zaidi Mohd Ripin; Nizam Ali Journal: J Occup Health Date: 2019-07-30 Impact factor: 2.708