Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, interrelation, and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. METHODS: A total of 9,696 randomly selected adults of working age were surveyed in a 2-stage cross-sectional study involving a screening questionnaire and a st...
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Format: | Journal article |
Language: | English |
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2004
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author | Walker-Bone, K Palmer, K Reading, I Coggon, D Cooper, C |
author_facet | Walker-Bone, K Palmer, K Reading, I Coggon, D Cooper, C |
author_sort | Walker-Bone, K |
collection | OXFORD |
description | OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, interrelation, and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. METHODS: A total of 9,696 randomly selected adults of working age were surveyed in a 2-stage cross-sectional study involving a screening questionnaire and a standardized physical examination in symptomatic subjects. Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates were estimated for several musculoskeletal disorders and for nonspecific pain in the upper limbs. The overlap and impact on daily activities and healthcare utilization were explored. RESULTS: Among 6,038 first-stage responders, 3,152 reported upper limb symptoms and 1,960 were subsequently examined. Of subjects with pain, 44.8% had 1 or more specific soft-tissue disorders. Site-specific prevalence rates were as follows: shoulder tendinitis 4.5% among men and 6.1% among women; adhesive capsulitis 8.2% among men and 10.1% among women; lateral epicondylitis 1.3% among men and 1.1% among women; de Quervain's disease 0.5% among men and 1.3% among women; other tenosynovitis of the hand or wrist, 1.1% among men and 2.2% among women. Specific disorders tended to cluster (P < 0.001) in individuals, with particular overlap at the shoulder. Compared with subjects with nonspecific pain, those with specific disorders more often reported inability to perform everyday tasks (P < 0.05), consultation with a doctor (P < 0.05), and use of prescribed medication (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Upper limb pain is common in the general population and is often associated with physical signs suggestive of specific upper-limb disorders. These disorders have a substantial impact on physical function and use of health care. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:44:46Z |
format | Journal article |
id | oxford-uuid:70864c9e-52c2-44ec-a6f0-debbba8aa6c3 |
institution | University of Oxford |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:44:46Z |
publishDate | 2004 |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oxford-uuid:70864c9e-52c2-44ec-a6f0-debbba8aa6c32022-03-26T19:37:43ZPrevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:70864c9e-52c2-44ec-a6f0-debbba8aa6c3EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2004Walker-Bone, KPalmer, KReading, ICoggon, DCooper, C OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, interrelation, and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. METHODS: A total of 9,696 randomly selected adults of working age were surveyed in a 2-stage cross-sectional study involving a screening questionnaire and a standardized physical examination in symptomatic subjects. Age- and sex-specific prevalence rates were estimated for several musculoskeletal disorders and for nonspecific pain in the upper limbs. The overlap and impact on daily activities and healthcare utilization were explored. RESULTS: Among 6,038 first-stage responders, 3,152 reported upper limb symptoms and 1,960 were subsequently examined. Of subjects with pain, 44.8% had 1 or more specific soft-tissue disorders. Site-specific prevalence rates were as follows: shoulder tendinitis 4.5% among men and 6.1% among women; adhesive capsulitis 8.2% among men and 10.1% among women; lateral epicondylitis 1.3% among men and 1.1% among women; de Quervain's disease 0.5% among men and 1.3% among women; other tenosynovitis of the hand or wrist, 1.1% among men and 2.2% among women. Specific disorders tended to cluster (P < 0.001) in individuals, with particular overlap at the shoulder. Compared with subjects with nonspecific pain, those with specific disorders more often reported inability to perform everyday tasks (P < 0.05), consultation with a doctor (P < 0.05), and use of prescribed medication (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Upper limb pain is common in the general population and is often associated with physical signs suggestive of specific upper-limb disorders. These disorders have a substantial impact on physical function and use of health care. |
spellingShingle | Walker-Bone, K Palmer, K Reading, I Coggon, D Cooper, C Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title | Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title_full | Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title_fullStr | Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title_short | Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. |
title_sort | prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population |
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