Social, demographic and laboral factors associated with the presence of lateral elbow epicondylitis
Main Article Content
Keywords
Epicondylitis, Sociodemographic Factors, Occupational Exposure, Occupational Medicine
Abstract
Objective: to determine the social and demographic factors associated with laboral activities and the presence of lateral epicondylitis of elbow in workers.
Methods: we conducted an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional sampling for convenience. We included 34 patients with a diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis, both sexes between 20 and 55 years, with occupations requiring repetitive movements of the wrist. They answered a questionnaire with 21 questions. We applied descriptive statistic.
Results: lateral epicondylitis occurs predominantly in women, aged 42.4 years with a schooling of 8.8 years; the main laboral activities were as cleaning staff (12 %), packaging (12 %) and mechanical (12 %). Thirty five percent of participants made at least two breaks for health. Nine percent were exposed to low temperatures.
Conclusions: lateral epicondylitis is a condition that occurs in greater proportion in women. It is situated more frequently in the fifth decade of life. Epicondylitis has not been thoroughly studied in our environment, perhaps it is more prevalent in women who work at home.
References
Pascarelli EF, Hsu YP. Understanding work-related upper extremity disorders: clinical findings in 485 computer users, musicians, and others. J Occup Rehabil 2001;11(1):1-21.
La Dou, J. Diagnóstico y tratamiento en medicina laboral y ambiental. Segunda edición. México: Manual Moderno; 2005. p. 77.
Kottke FJ, Lehmann JF. Krusen Medicina física y rehabilitación. Cuarta edición. Buenos Aires: Médica Panamericana; 1993. p. 722.
Lewis M, Hay EM, Paterson SM, Croft P. Effects of manual work on recovery from lateral epicondylitis. Scand J Work Environ Health 2002;28(2):109-116.
Fitzgerald RH, Kaufer H, Malkani A. Ortopedia. Buenos Aires: Médica Panamericana; 2004. p. 679.
Verhaar JA. Tennis elbow. Anatomical, epidemiological and therapeutic aspects. Int Orthop 1994;18(5):263-267.
Clayton AP. Surgery of the hand upper extremity. New York: Mc Graw Hill; 1996. p. 492.
Hortal-Alonso RM, Olivares M, Navarro-Alonso P, Candelas-Rodríguez G. Epicondilitis. Semin Fund Esp Reumatol 2005;6(2):80.
Gabel GT. Acute and chronic tendinopathies at the elbow. Curr Opin Rheumatol 1999;11(2):138-143.
Prentice WE, Davis M. Rehabilitation of knee. En: Prentice WE, Voight MI, editor. Techniques in musculo-skeletal rehabilitation. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2001.