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Hand-arm symptoms related to impact and nonimpact hand-held power tools

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Abstract

 Hand and arm symptoms among workers using impact and non-impact hand-held power tools were investigated in a cross-sectional study and a 5-year follow-up study. The study population consisted of concrete workers (n=103), truck assemblers (n=234), electricians (n=101), platers (n=140) and lumberjacks (n=102). Of the original 680 subjects, we followed up 312 after 5 years. A questionnaire concerning ongoing hand and arm symptoms, daily exposure to hand-held power tools, type of tool used, and individual factors was administered. More workers using low-frequency impact tools than workers using non-impact tools reported symptoms in the elbows and shoulders. Elbow symptoms were accentuated in the cross-sectional study, while shoulder symptoms were accentuated in the follow-up study. Wrist symptoms were reported by more of those working with high-frequency impact tools than of those using only non-impact tools when the analyses were controlled for age, years in the occupation and smoking habits. A possible explanation of the results found in this study is that low-frequency impact vibration is transmitted to the upper arm, and thus the elbow and shoulder are at risk, while high-frequency impact vibration is attenuated in the hand and wrist and may predominantly cause symptoms there.

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Received: 7 June 1995 / Accepted: 2 May 1996

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Kihlberg, S., Hagberg, M. Hand-arm symptoms related to impact and nonimpact hand-held power tools. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 69, 282–288 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004200050148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004200050148

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