ABSTRACT
Workers' compensation costs for management of soft tissue disorders continue to increase. The complexity of medical management of these cases has increased due to social factors. The purpose of this study is to improve the physician's ability to recognize nonmedical issues that prevent a rapid return to employment. A classification system is presented that will allow the clinician to identify administrative and pyschosocial issues that prolong disability. Additionally, the patients' job demands were classified by known ergonomic risk factors. The system was applied retrospectively to 50 random cases referred to two occupational hand clinics over a 1-year period. The results indicated that the psychosocial classification of the patient and the current employment status are the most important factors in prolonging disability workers.
Subject(s)
Cumulative Trauma Disorders/psychology , Disability Evaluation , Occupational Diseases/psychology , Adult , Anger , Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/classification , Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/psychology , Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/therapy , Costs and Cost Analysis , Cumulative Trauma Disorders/classification , Cumulative Trauma Disorders/economics , Cumulative Trauma Disorders/therapy , Employment , Ergonomics , Female , Hand Injuries/classification , Hand Injuries/psychology , Hand Injuries/therapy , Humans , Musculoskeletal Diseases/classification , Musculoskeletal Diseases/psychology , Musculoskeletal Diseases/therapy , Occupational Diseases/classification , Occupational Diseases/economics , Occupational Diseases/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Soft Tissue Injuries/classification , Soft Tissue Injuries/psychology , Soft Tissue Injuries/therapy , Stress, Psychological/classification , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/classification , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/psychology , Thoracic Outlet Syndrome/therapy , Workers' Compensation/economicsABSTRACT
Ergonomics in the work place has become more critical in recent years, both from a sedentary and a dynamic perspective. As mentioned, overall work-place injuries have decreased, but carpal tunnel disease has risen steadily. It is essential that health care providers understand the basis of ergonomics to ensure quality of care to the injured worker as well as to promote safe work practices. The field of ergonomics has had more concrete scientific evidence from which to draw conclusions than body mechanics. Health care providers are able to make an assessment of a work station and have clear scientific evidence to support their rationale to change that work station. The controversy still goes on regarding the correct position the spine should assume when one attempts to lift. Only with continued basic scientific research will we solve that dilemma.
