Prevalence of knee bursitis in the workforce

BACKGROUND: Knee bursitis (KB) is a common disorder in specific occupations requiring frequent and/or sustained kneeling postures.AIMS: To assess the prevalence of KB in the general working population. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2005, a total of 3710 workers of a French region were randomly included in the study. A standardized physical examination of the knee was performed when knee pain was reported by the worker during the preceding 12 months. The criteria for diagnosis of KB were (i) the presence of pain and/or tenderness in the anterior face of the knee at the date of the examination (or for at least 4 days in the preceding week) and (ii) the presence of swelling and/or pressure-induced pain of the pre- or infra-patellar bursa. Occupational risk factors were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of uni- or bilateral cases of knee bursitis was low: 0.6% [0.2-0.9] in men and 0.2% [0.0-0.6] in women. The highest prevalence was observed in the construction sector (2.3% [0.8-5.4]) and in the food and meat processing industries (1.4% [0.4-3.5)]. More blue-collar workers were affected than other occupation categories (0.8% [0.3-1.2] versus 0.1% [0.0-0.4]). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a concentration of cases among male workers exposed to heavy workloads and frequent kneeling

Bilan et perspectives du programme de surveillance épidémiologique des troubles musculo-squelettiques

Le programme pilote de surveillance épidémiologique des troubles musculo-squelettiques (TMS) développé dans la région des Pays de la Loire fêtera bientôt ses 10 ans. Ce programme a largement contribué à la mesure de ce problème majeur de santé au travail, mesure jusqu’alors essentiellement basée sur les statistiques de reconnaissance en maladie professionnelle; de même, il a contribué à la mise en visibilité dans le débat social du poids des facteurs professionnels dans leur survenue. Des pistes restent à explorer pour rendre cette surveillance plus efficiente et plusrégulière à l’échelon national. Par ailleurs, une réflexion est engagée sur la manière dont on peut traduire, pour les pouvoirs publics, les entreprises et le public, les résultats issus de l’épidémiologie de façon qu’ils puissent se les approprier à des fins de prévention. Car prévenir de façon durable les TMS et prendre en compte les situations de handicap des salariés souffrant de TMS est un impératif de santé au travail et de santé publique, sur lequel doivent se mobiliser tous les acteurs de la prévention des risques professionnels dans le cadre d’une politique structurée et coordonnée

The French Musculoskeletal Disorders Surveillance Program: Pays de la Loire network

Objectives: An epidemiological surveillance system for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) was implemented in 2002 in France’s Pays de la Loire region to assess the incidence and prevalence of MSDs in the general and working populations, identify levels of exposure to occupational risk factors and investigate the proportion of cases attributable to work exposure.Methods: The program combines (1) surveillance of sentinel health events in the general population (carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) was the sentinel event for upper limb MSDs), (2) assessment of the prevalence of the main upper limb MSDs and their risk factors in the workplace based on a network of occupational physicians and (3) registration of the notification of work-related diseases (WRDs). Results: 1168 incident cases of CTS were included over a 3 year period. The estimated incidence of CTS was 1.00 per 1000 person-years in those aged 20–59 years (0.60 in men and 1.40 in women). The incidence rate was higher in employed than unemployed persons in the year of diagnosis (0.6 per 1000 vs 0.3 in men and 1.7 vs 0.8 in women). The occupational physician network noted high prevalence rates: 11% of men and 15% of women had at least one of the six main upper limb clinically-diagnosed MSDs. The WRD survey showed that MSDs represented 65% of notified WRDs. Conclusion: The Pays de la Loire program plays a significant role in informing the authorities and the public about the state of current MSDs. It is planned to extend it to a routine national surveillance program

Contribuições para o desenvolvimento da Educação Ambiental em Unidades de Conservação no Brasil a partir de programas educativos do Geoparque Naturtejo (Portugal)

O presente trabalho pretende apresentar os resultados de estudos realizados sobre programas educativos desenvolvidos no Geoparque Naturtejo (Portugal) e avaliar se os programas podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de programas de preservação e educação ambiental em Unidades de Conservação – UC brasileiras cuja organização e sistematização de uso e ocupação tem como base o Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação (SNUC). A pesquisa envolveu pesquisa documental, entrevistas com responsáveis por programas educativos do geoparque e acompanhamento de atividades de campo. A educação ambiental (EA) desenvolvida no geoparque possui três características notáveis: 1. EA naturalmente inclusiva, pois busca integrar os moradores locais; 2. Os conteúdos de EA estão integrados a conteúdos do ensino formal; 3. A EA junto às escolas e comunidades locais é muito ativa. A EA praticada nas UC brasileiras foca somente em quem as visita, geralmente excluindo a comunidade ou escolas da região; exige-se proteção local sem que a comunidade compreenda os processos relacionados ao ambiente. Embora os objetivos e finalidades de um geoparque não sejam os mesmos definidos para as UC brasileiras, consideramos que o modelo dos programas educativos do geoparque estudado poderia ser uma proposta mais efetiva para desenvolver a educação ambiental no Brasil.CAPES pelo apoio financeiro com bolsas do programa PDSE, Doutorado Sanduíche no Exterior, e à FAPESP, Proc. 2009/01741-9.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Working in temporary employment and exposure to musculoskeletal constraints

BACKGROUND: In recent years, temporary work (TW) has increased in European countries due to the greater uncertainty in the economy.AIMS: To compare the prevalence of non-specific musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremities (UEMSDs) and their main risk factors in blue-collar workers employed through temporary agencies (TW) and in those in permanent employment (PE). METHODS: UEMSDs occurring during the preceding 7 days were assessed using a Nordic questionnaire completed by 1493 blue-collar workers randomly included in a surveillance programme for UEMSDs (171 in TW and 1322 in PE) in a large French region. Personal factors and work-related risk factors for UEMSDs were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The prevalence of UEMSDs during the preceding 7 days did not significantly differ between workers in TW or PE. However, after adjustment for age and gender, TW had a higher risk of symptoms of the wrist/hand region (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.04-2.6). TW was characterized by higher exposure to paced work (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4-3.0), repetitive work (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.6-3.4), awkward postures of the wrist (OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) and intensive use of vibrating hand tools (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.3). Workers in TW suffered from a lack of autonomy (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.6) and skill discretion at work (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1) more frequently, but there was no difference in relation to psychological demands of the task or social support. CONCLUSIONS: Temporary workers were more frequently exposed to working time constraints, repetitive work and biomechanical constraints of the wrist/hand region when compared to permanent workers and may represent a subpopulation at particularly high risk of UEMSDs

L’hygroma du genou chez les salariés des Pays de la Loire en 2002-2004

International audienc

Comparison of risk factors for shoulder pain and rotator cuff syndrome in the working population

BACKGROUND: To compare risk factors for shoulder pain without and with rotator cuff syndrome (RCS).METHODS: A total of 3,710 workers of a French region were randomly included in the cross-sectional study between 2002 and 2005. Personal and occupational risk factors were assessed during a physical examination and by a self-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic modeling was used for the following outcomes: no shoulder pain and no RCS (reference), shoulder pain without RCS (called "shoulder pain") and RCS, separately for men and women. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of "shoulder pain" for men and women were 28.0% and 31.1%, respectively, and the prevalence rates of RCS were 6.6% and 8.5%, respectively. In men, "shoulder pain" and RCS were associated with age, high-perceived physical exertion, and arm abduction. Automatic work pace and low supervisor support were associated with "shoulder pain," and high psychological demand and low skill discretion with RCS. In women, "shoulder pain" and RCS were associated with age, repetitiveness of tasks, and low supervisor support. High perceived physical exertion and exposure to cold temperatures were associated with "shoulder pain." CONCLUSIONS: Age was more strongly associated with RCS than with shoulder pain without RCS for both genders. Biomechanical and psychosocial factors were associated with "shoulder pain" and RCS and differed between genders

Floating islands implementation in marine and freshwater environments

Rapid industrialization, changes in human activities, and agricultural practices have led to the widespread use of toxic organic compounds, resulting in increased concentrations of pollutants in the environment that can be transmitted through air, water, or soil, resulting in numerous environmental and health problems. Therefore, the efficient management of water in these polluted sites is urgently needed. Aiming at this, this work proposes the use of floating wetland islands (FWI) for phytoremediation of these environments, since they have a great potential to promote several ecosystem services, such as biodiversity and water quality improvement. Having that in consideration it will be carried out an assessment related to the most adequate materials for the floating platform to be applied in marine and freshwater environments. Plants will be selected based on previous research carried out by the group It is intended that the floating platform developed under the present study will be compared with a commercial system cork based. It will be monitored the plant development and establishment in the two floating platforms materials and environments, the associated fauna and the water characterization. From the analysis of these results, this work hopes that these nature-based solutions can contribute to better water management, in such a way that will involve the conservation and rehabilitation of ecosystems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Personal, biomechanical, and psychosocial risk factors for rotator cuff syndrome in a working population

OBJECTIVE: Rotator cuff syndrome (RCS) is a major health problem among workers. The aim of the study was to examine the risk factors for RCS among workers exposed to various levels of shoulder constraints.METHODS: From 3710 workers, representative of a French region`s working population, trained occupational physicians diagnosed a total of 142 cases of RCS among men and 132 among women between 2002-2005. Diagnoses were established by standardized physical examination while personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between RCS and personal and work-related factors were analyzed for each gender using logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: The personal risk factors for RCS were age [odds ratio (OR) for 1-year increment 1.07, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.05-1.09, among men and 1.08, 95% CI 1.06-1.10, among women] and diabetes mellitus (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.0-8.6, among women). The work-related risk factors were (i) sustained or repeated arm abduction (≥ 2 hours/day) >90 degrees among men (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3-3.9) and >60 degrees among women (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.2) or both conditions among men (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.7) and women (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.8-7.3); (ii) high repetitiveness of the task (≥ 4 hours/day) among men (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.4) and women (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5); (iii) high perceived physical demand among men (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1); (iv) high psychological demand among men (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5); and (v) low decision authority among women (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3). CONCLUSION: Personal (ie, age) and work-related physical (ie, arm abduction) and psychosocial factors were associated with RCS for both genders in this working population