Heavy labor and the occurrence of gonarthrosis.

The prevalence of primary gonarthrosis was investigated in 332 men, (average age, 66 years) who had been doing heavy work for more than 30 years. Only subjects who had had symptoms and clinical studies, including a knee roentgen examination, were considered. Using the criteria of Ahlbäck, the prevalence of primary gonarthrosis was 3.9% in the laborers. In the age-matched internal and external controls, the prevalence was 1.4% and 1.6%, respectively. Circumstantial evidence suggests an association between heavy work and the incidence of gonarthrosis.