[Evaluation of residual osteomuscular function using computerised movement analysis for building sector workers: specificity and technical problem]. / La valutazione della funzionalità osteomuscolare residua tramite l'analisi computerizzata del movimento nei lavoratori del comparto edile: specificità e problematicità.

Occupational Health Doctors active in building sector firms frequently have to evaluate residual workers' osteomuscular function in patients coming back to work after an accident happened during work time or free time. Definition of their specific individual work suitability is usually carried out utilizing semeiotic tests in which subjective evaluation of every single Medical Doctor is real important in definition of final results and this fact can cause legal controversies. In our research we describe the application of computerised movement analysis on 10 workers of building sector. In every patient examined this technical method has been able to study objectively the tridimensional ranges of motion of most important osteomuscular districts. The possibility to have an objective evaluation of residual osteomuscular function has a relevant importance both in definition of workers' work suitability at the moment in which they start again their activities and in possible future legal conflicts.

[The movement computerized analysis as instrumental support for occupational doctors in evaluation of upper limb pathologies in engineering workers]. / L'analisi computerizzata del movimento come strumento di supporto al Medico del Lavoro nella valutazione dei disturbi muscolo-scheletrici degli arti superiori nel comparto metalmecanico.

The movement computerized analysis of upper limb is a valid support in the definition of residual functional capability and of specific work suitability in complex cases. This methodology of evaluation is able to correctly and objectively define the tridimensional ranges of motion of every patient's upper limb. This fact can be particularly useful for workers coming back to work after a work-related or a not work-related accident of for handicapped workers at the beginning of a new work activity. We report a research carried out using computerized analysis of motion of upper limbs in 20 engineering workers.

[The posturological clinic evaluation in vdt/pc operators: a second level diagnostic instrument in low back pain evaluation]. / La visita specialistica posturologica negli operatori vdt/pc: strumento diagnostico di secondo livello per le lombalgie.

The diagnosis and the therapy of the cases of low back pain in absence of organic spinal column diseases, frequently referred by vdt/pc users in connection with their work activities are frequently unsatisfactory both for the Occupational Doctors and for the patients. The specialized posturological evaluation, composed by a specific clinical examination and by specific instrumental exams, seems to be a valid instrument for a more effective management of patients affected by such clinical cases. The treatments described in this research have eliminated or greatly reduced the pain in these patients, with an efficacy prolonged until at least a year; as it is demonstrated by the few relapses referred by the workers. We think that a more frequent cooperation between Occupational Doctors and Posturologists can improve both the clinical conditions of the patients and the possibilities they have in the years to maintain their complete work ability.

[The posturological department as clinical support for occupational medicine: clinical cases and results of a hospital unit]. / L'ambulatorio di posturologia come supporto specialistico per la medicina del lavoro--casistica e risultati della pratica clinica di una struttura ospedaliera.

The posturologic visit is a not widely known medical method for the evaluation and the therapy of low back pain. We describe the clinical and instrumental method followed in our posturological clinical unit organized jointly by hospital and university and the clinical cases evaluated in two years. An individual diagnostic evaluation and a personal therapy allowed an almost generalized complete remission of the symptoms and a very low number of reactivation of low back pain after a follow up of one years.

[Stabilometric parameters associated with musculoskeletal diseases in a group of traffic policemen]. / Parametri stabilometrici associati a disturbi muscoloscheletrici in un gruppo di vigili urbani.

As reported by previous literature, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is high in population of local police officers, due to several risk factors, including awkward posture, jolt/vibrations and stress. The results of our study reveal that the most common musculoskeletal symptoms among local police officers are cervicobrachial pain, low back pain and sciatica. Low-back pain is associated with tasks exposing to awkward posture of the spine (traffic policemen and policemen involved in office-based duties); cervical and upper extremity disorders are related to the exposure to vibrations and to the upper limb posture held by motorcycle police. Among postural parameters, anterior scapular plane, flat back and Barre's vertical resulted possible predictive tests of adaptation of the postural system to the symptom pain in subjects with low back pain. In conclusion, it is necessary to adopt organizational, protective and preventive measures in order to occupational health of local police officers. They include: decrease of time periods during which an awkward posture is held, breaks between duties, prescription of ergonomic shoes, use of low-weight and low-volume duty-packs, and planning of periodical osteopathic check-ups as part of the health program, aimed to uncover initial postural alterations related to musculoskeletal disorders.