Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of impaired median nerve function in relation to hand-intensive seasonal work. We hypothesized that at end-season, median nerve conduction would be impaired and then recover within weeks. METHODS: Using nerve conduction studies (NCS),...
Published in: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
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Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2017
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3619 https://doaj.org/article/3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 2023-05-15T16:02:05+02:00 Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work Sorosh Tabatabaeifar Susanne Wulff Svendsen Birger Johnsen Gert-Åke Hansson Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Poul Frost 2017-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3619 https://doaj.org/article/3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 EN eng Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3619 https://doaj.org/toc/0355-3140 https://doaj.org/toc/1795-990X 0355-3140 1795-990X doi:10.5271/sjweh.3619 https://doaj.org/article/3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol 43, Iss 2, Pp 163-170 (2017) occupational exposure repetitive work carpal tunnel syndrome cts nerve conduction study median nerve nerve impairment median nerve impairment Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3619 2022-12-31T15:37:55Z OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of impaired median nerve function in relation to hand-intensive seasonal work. We hypothesized that at end-season, median nerve conduction would be impaired and then recover within weeks. METHODS: Using nerve conduction studies (NCS), we examined median nerve conduction before, during, and after engaging in 22 days of mink skinning. For a subgroup, we used goniometry and surface electromyography to characterize occupational mechanical exposures. Questionnaire information on symptoms, disability, and lifestyle factors was obtained. RESULTS: The study comprised 11 male mink skinners with normal median nerve conduction at pre-season (mean age 35.7 years, mean number of seasons with skinning 8.9 years). Mink skinning was characterized by a median angle of wrist flexion/extension of 16º extension, a median velocity of wrist flexion/extension of 22 °/s, and force exertions of 11% of maximal voluntary electrical activity. At end-season, mean distal motor latency (DML) had increased 0.41 ms (P<0.001), mean sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) digit 2 had decreased 6.3 m/s (P=0.004), and mean SNCV digit 3 had decreased 6.2 m/s (P=0.01); 9 mink skinners had decreases in nerve conduction, 5 fulfilled electrodiagnostic criteria and 4 fulfilled electrodiagnostic and clinical criteria (a positive Katz hand diagram) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Three to six weeks post-season, the changes had reverted to normal. Symptom and disability scores showed corresponding changes. CONCLUSIONS: In this natural experiment, impaired median nerve conduction developed during 22 days of repetitive industrial work with moderate wrist postures and limited force exertion. Recovery occurred within 3–6 weeks post-season. Article in Journal/Newspaper DML Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health 43 2 163 170 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
occupational exposure repetitive work carpal tunnel syndrome cts nerve conduction study median nerve nerve impairment median nerve impairment Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
occupational exposure repetitive work carpal tunnel syndrome cts nerve conduction study median nerve nerve impairment median nerve impairment Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Sorosh Tabatabaeifar Susanne Wulff Svendsen Birger Johnsen Gert-Åke Hansson Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Poul Frost Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
topic_facet |
occupational exposure repetitive work carpal tunnel syndrome cts nerve conduction study median nerve nerve impairment median nerve impairment Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of impaired median nerve function in relation to hand-intensive seasonal work. We hypothesized that at end-season, median nerve conduction would be impaired and then recover within weeks. METHODS: Using nerve conduction studies (NCS), we examined median nerve conduction before, during, and after engaging in 22 days of mink skinning. For a subgroup, we used goniometry and surface electromyography to characterize occupational mechanical exposures. Questionnaire information on symptoms, disability, and lifestyle factors was obtained. RESULTS: The study comprised 11 male mink skinners with normal median nerve conduction at pre-season (mean age 35.7 years, mean number of seasons with skinning 8.9 years). Mink skinning was characterized by a median angle of wrist flexion/extension of 16º extension, a median velocity of wrist flexion/extension of 22 °/s, and force exertions of 11% of maximal voluntary electrical activity. At end-season, mean distal motor latency (DML) had increased 0.41 ms (P<0.001), mean sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) digit 2 had decreased 6.3 m/s (P=0.004), and mean SNCV digit 3 had decreased 6.2 m/s (P=0.01); 9 mink skinners had decreases in nerve conduction, 5 fulfilled electrodiagnostic criteria and 4 fulfilled electrodiagnostic and clinical criteria (a positive Katz hand diagram) for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Three to six weeks post-season, the changes had reverted to normal. Symptom and disability scores showed corresponding changes. CONCLUSIONS: In this natural experiment, impaired median nerve conduction developed during 22 days of repetitive industrial work with moderate wrist postures and limited force exertion. Recovery occurred within 3–6 weeks post-season. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sorosh Tabatabaeifar Susanne Wulff Svendsen Birger Johnsen Gert-Åke Hansson Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Poul Frost |
author_facet |
Sorosh Tabatabaeifar Susanne Wulff Svendsen Birger Johnsen Gert-Åke Hansson Anders Fuglsang-Frederiksen Poul Frost |
author_sort |
Sorosh Tabatabaeifar |
title |
Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
title_short |
Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
title_full |
Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
title_fullStr |
Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
title_full_unstemmed |
Reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
title_sort |
reversible median nerve impairment after three weeks of repetitive work |
publisher |
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3619 https://doaj.org/article/3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 |
genre |
DML |
genre_facet |
DML |
op_source |
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol 43, Iss 2, Pp 163-170 (2017) |
op_relation |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3619 https://doaj.org/toc/0355-3140 https://doaj.org/toc/1795-990X 0355-3140 1795-990X doi:10.5271/sjweh.3619 https://doaj.org/article/3d064b2c576f40d582b7e99c6b054739 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3619 |
container_title |
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
container_volume |
43 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
163 |
op_container_end_page |
170 |
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1766397709162381312 |