Objective: Occupational disorders are defined as “disorders that occur due to a recurring reason depending on the nature of the work or due to the conditions of the work”. These disorders in the musculoskeletal system are known as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD). It is important to know the most common occupational disorders to be able to take preventative ergonomic measures.
Method: The study was conducted in a private hospital in a region of intense heavy industry, and included a total of 465 heavy industry workers who presented at our physical therapy and rehabilitation unit with musculoskeletal complaints and were diagnosed with upper extremity WMSD after physical examination and tests in the period 2016 - 2022. Patients were excluded from the study if they did not work in heavy industry, or were not diagnosed with upper extremity WMSD. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the data.
Results: The total 465 patients comprised 389 (83.7%) males and 76 (16.3%) females with a mean age of 32.1±7.2 years. The most common upper extremity WMSDs were determined as lateral epicondylitis in 91 cases (19.5%), De Quervain's tenosynovitis in 83 (17.8%), rotator cuff tendinitis in 82 (17.6%), impingement syndrome in 52 (11.1%), carpal tunnel syndrome in 28 (6.02%), and trigger finger in 25 (5.3%).
Conclusion: In heavy industry workers in the Marmara region of Turkey, upper extremity WMSDs were seen to affect the shoulders, elbows and wrists. The protection of these areas should be at the forefront when planning workstations, using equipment, and establishing working conditions.
Anahtar Kelimeler: De Quervain Tenosynovitis , Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Musculoskeletal Occupational Disorders, Lateral Epicondylitis, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, Upper Extremity Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
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