Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population
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 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.
epidemiology, upper limb disorders, soft-tissue rheumatism, prevalence, impact
642-651
Walker-Bone, Karen
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Palmer, Keith T.
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Reading, Isabel
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Coggon, David
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Cooper, Cyrus
e05f5612-b493-4273-9b71-9e0ce32bdad6
August 2004
Walker-Bone, Karen
ad7d1336-ed2c-4f39-ade5-da84eb412109
Palmer, Keith T.
0cfe63f0-1d33-40ff-ae8c-6c33601df850
Reading, Isabel
6f832276-87b7-4a76-a9ed-b4b3df0a3f66
Coggon, David
2b43ce0a-cc61-4d86-b15d-794208ffa5d3
Cooper, Cyrus
e05f5612-b493-4273-9b71-9e0ce32bdad6
Walker-Bone, Karen, Palmer, Keith T., Reading, Isabel, Coggon, David and Cooper, Cyrus
(2004)
Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population.
Arthritis and Rheumatism, 51 (4), .
(doi:10.1002/art.20535).
Abstract
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.
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Published date: August 2004
Keywords:
epidemiology, upper limb disorders, soft-tissue rheumatism, prevalence, impact
Organisations:
Community Clinical Sciences, Dev Origins of Health & Disease
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 24543
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24543
ISSN: 0004-3591
PURE UUID: ff94c686-f3a4-4f3c-abf1-212fb311eae0
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Date deposited: 31 Mar 2006
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 02:51
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Author:
Keith T. Palmer
Author:
Isabel Reading
Author:
David Coggon
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