Higgs P E, Edwards D F, Seaton M K, Feely C A, Young V L
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.
J Gerontol. 1993 Jul;48(4):M175-80. doi: 10.1093/geronj/48.4.m175.
Upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) are among the most prevalent and costly occupational injuries. These disorders include nerve compression syndromes, tenosynovitis, epicondylitis, tendinitis, and arthritis. These have been related in the past to repetitive use of the upper extremity. The expected increase in the age of the American work force and the assumption that older workers are more susceptible to the disorders prompted this investigation of the relationship of age to signs and symptoms of upper extremity impairment.
A battery measuring seven objective signs and four reported symptoms of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders was administered to two stratified random samples of workers. One group (n = 157) processed cooked poultry and the second group (n = 118) performed data entry at VDT terminals. Workers were separated into three age groups (younger: 20-35 years, middle-aged: 36-50 years, and older: 51-71 years).
A series of analyses of variance were computed to determine whether the older workers were more impaired. No significant age differences were found for sign, symptom, or total scores in either sample, and no significant Age x Gender interaction was present. Older workers were more impaired for vibratory sensation, cutaneous pressure, and motor latency.
The results support the hiring of older workers for general tasks in the workplace without significant worry of increased susceptibility to CTDs.
上肢累积性创伤疾病（CTD）是最常见且代价高昂的职业伤害之一。这些疾病包括神经压迫综合征、腱鞘炎、肱骨外上髁炎、肌腱炎和关节炎。过去认为这些疾病与上肢的反复使用有关。美国劳动力年龄的预期增长以及老年工人更容易患这些疾病的假设促使了本次对年龄与上肢损伤体征和症状之间关系的调查。
对两个分层随机抽样的工人样本进行了一组测量上肢累积性创伤疾病的七个客观体征和四个报告症状的测试。一组（n = 157）处理熟禽肉，另一组（n = 118）在VDT终端进行数据录入。工人被分为三个年龄组（年轻组：20 - 35岁，中年组：36 - 50岁，老年组：51 - 71岁）。
进行了一系列方差分析以确定老年工人是否损伤更严重。在两个样本中，体征、症状或总分均未发现显著的年龄差异，且不存在显著的年龄×性别交互作用。老年工人在振动觉、皮肤压力觉和运动潜伏期方面损伤更严重。
结果支持在工作场所雇佣老年工人从事一般任务，而无需过多担心其患CTD的易感性增加。
