Studies on the progress of occupational cervicobrachial disorder by analysing the subjective symptoms of work-women in assembly lines of a cigarette factory.

The Committee on Cervicobrachial Syndrome in Japan Association of Industrial Health (JAIH) made a report on the questionnaires for checking for the complaints of patients suffering from Occupational Cervicobrachial Disorder (OCD). In order to reveal how the complaints develop in the progress of OCD, we analysed the complaints of 117 workwomen in assembly lines of a cigarette factory by using the questionnaires. And the followings were made clear: 1) At the mild stage of OCD, stiffness or dullness at the neck and shoulders, and eyestrain become remarkable. 2) At the moderate stage, pain at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, dullness at extremities, general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability etc. become remarkable in addition to the mild stage complaints. 3) At the severe stage, pain and dullness at the back, numbness at arms and hands, hand coldness, sleep disturbance etc. become remarkable in addition to the moderate stage complaints. 4) Various sufferings in daily life such as "I want to lie down at rest time," "I lack patience to go on reading long," "It is hard for me to go on writing long," and "Fixed sitting soon tires me" become more and more frequent as the stage advances. We consider it is important in the diagnosis of OCD to pay attention to the general symptoms such as general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability and sleep disturbance, together with complaints at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.