Aim: On the basis of medical examinations of
the upper extremities of persons working in
the construction industry, significant physical
symptoms and their association with occupations
and work processes are to be identified.
Foci for preventive measures are to be identified
from the results.
Methods: The cross-sectional study made
use of data from preventive medical examinations
of 103,913 (1991–1999) and 108,963
(1994–2003) mainly male employees, evaluated
on the basis of age, work processes and
occupation.
Results: Occupational physicians diagnosed
abnormalities in the shoulders of 2.6 % of
men and 1.6 % of women, in the elbows of
1.5 % and 1.0 %, the wrists of 0.8 % and 0.7 %
and the finger joints of 1.2 % and 0.6 %, with
a continual increase in prevalence with age.
The shoulder was most affected in scaffolders,
glaziers/window-makers and carpenters
with prevalences of 3.5 %, 2.9 % and 2.5 %.
The highest prevalences of abnormal findings
for the elbows were found in stove fitters,
plasterers and renderers: 2.1 %, 2.1 % and
2.0 %. In both regions the findings were more
frequent on the right side than on the left.
Abnormalities in the wrists were most common
in manufacturers of concrete blocks,
crane drivers and glaziers: 2.9 %, 1.5 %, 1.3 %.
Findings for the finger joints were most frequent
in manufacturers of concrete blocks
followed by glaziers and road construction
workers: 2.8 %, 1.8 %, 1.6 %. Hand and finger
joint abnormalities were mostly diagnosed
in only one hand without dominance of one
side. Simultaneous effects on neighbouring
joints or on the upper extremities and the
cervical spine are rare. Forced attitudes and
vibration were identified as potential causes
of strain, repeated strain as a cause of injury
could, however, be deduced from the affected
occupations only indirectly.
Conclusions: Disorders of the shoulder joint
are the most common of the problems with
the upper extremities and are markedly agerelated.
For the elbow joint there are hints
of work-related strain: associations with
reported exposure to vibration and uncomfortable
working positions. On the basis of
the affected occupations, repeated strain as
a potential risk factor should be studied in
more detail.
