Dose–response relationship between physical workload and specific shoulder diseases—a systematic review with meta-analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Several epidemiological studies have found an association between shoulder-loaded work activities and specific shoulder diseases. No study has derived the dose-response relationship and resulting doubling dose, important for the recognition of occupational diseases. This systematic review is an update of the van der Molen et al. (2017) review. Based on its methodologies, we identified new studies published up to November 2018. The dose-response relationship between physical occupational demands (hands at/above shoulder level, repetitive movements, forceful work, hand-arm vibrations) and specific shoulder diseases (defined as ICD-10 M 75.1-5: rotator cuff syndrome, bicipital tendinitis, calcific tendinitis, impingement, and bursitis) was derived. No evidence for sex-specific differences in the dose-response relationship was found. If there were at least two studies with comparable exposures, a meta-analysis was carried out. The pooled analysis resulted in a 21% risk increase (95% CI 4–41%) per 1000 h of work with hands above shoulder level. A meta-analysis was not possible for other occupational burdens due to the low number of studies and differing exposure measurements; an estimate of the doubling dose was made based on the cohort study of Dalbøge et al. (2014). To conclude, the present systematic review with meta-analysis contributes to knowledge of the level of exposure at which specific shoulder diseases—particularly rotator cuff lesions—should be recognized as an occupational disease.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number1243
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume17
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 2 Feb 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 32075183
ORCID /0000-0001-7668-4734/work/158767347

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Dose-response relationship, Doubling dose, Musculoskeletal diseases of the shoulder, Occupational disease, Physical workload, Rotator cuff lesions