Springe auf Hauptinhalt Springe auf Hauptmenü Springe auf SiteSearch

Arbeitsmedizinische Muskel-Skelett-Befunde bei Beschäftigten der Bauwirtschaft und ihre Beziehung zu arbeitsbedingten körperlichen Belastungen
Teil 1: Schulter-Arm-Hand-Befunde

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.