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Work above shoulder level and degenerative alterations of the rotator cuff tendons - A magnetic resonance imaging study

Svendsen, SW ; Gelineck, J ; Mathiassen, Svend Erik LU ; Bonde, JP ; Frich, LH ; Stengaard-Pedersen, K and Egund, N (2004) In Arthritis and Rheumatism 50(10). p.3314-3322
Abstract
Objective. To determine whether work performed with the arms in a highly elevated position is associated with alterations in the rotator cuff tendons as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in a historical cohort of male machinists, car mechanics, and house painters. The participants were right-handed, ages 40-50 years, and had been employed in their trades for not less than 10 years. Seventy-one percent of invited subjects participated (136 of 192). Lifetime upper arm elevation was assessed by direct measurements combined with individual work histories obtained by questionnaire and from registry data. Supraspinatus tendinopathy was evidenced by MRI signal intensity changes and... (More)
Objective. To determine whether work performed with the arms in a highly elevated position is associated with alterations in the rotator cuff tendons as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in a historical cohort of male machinists, car mechanics, and house painters. The participants were right-handed, ages 40-50 years, and had been employed in their trades for not less than 10 years. Seventy-one percent of invited subjects participated (136 of 192). Lifetime upper arm elevation was assessed by direct measurements combined with individual work histories obtained by questionnaire and from registry data. Supraspinatus tendinopathy was evidenced by MRI signal intensity changes and morphologic alterations. Infraspinatus and subscapularis tendinopathy were also assessed. Additional outcomes were acromioclavicular joint degeneration and humeral head cysts. The MRI findings were evaluated by radiologists who were blinded to exposure status and symptoms. Results. An exposure-response relationship was found between lifetime upper arm elevation and supraspinatus tendinopathy, with an age-adjusted odds ratio of 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.60) for a 5-month increase in the total number of full-time working months spent with the arm elevated > 90degrees. Conclusion. Work with the arms in a highly elevated position is associated with MRI-diagnosed alterations in the supraspinatus tendon. By demonstrating the first part of a possible biologic pathway, the study corroborates the work-relatedness of rotator cuff disorders. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Arthritis and Rheumatism
volume
50
issue
10
pages
3314 - 3322
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000224508400031
  • pmid:15476229
  • scopus:5644250574
ISSN
1529-0131
DOI
10.1002/art.20495
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
255a3cff-ec75-4e8e-a13c-c3b800566fdc (old id 264147)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:36:28
date last changed
2022-04-20 19:08:27
@article{255a3cff-ec75-4e8e-a13c-c3b800566fdc,
  abstract     = {{Objective. To determine whether work performed with the arms in a highly elevated position is associated with alterations in the rotator cuff tendons as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed in a historical cohort of male machinists, car mechanics, and house painters. The participants were right-handed, ages 40-50 years, and had been employed in their trades for not less than 10 years. Seventy-one percent of invited subjects participated (136 of 192). Lifetime upper arm elevation was assessed by direct measurements combined with individual work histories obtained by questionnaire and from registry data. Supraspinatus tendinopathy was evidenced by MRI signal intensity changes and morphologic alterations. Infraspinatus and subscapularis tendinopathy were also assessed. Additional outcomes were acromioclavicular joint degeneration and humeral head cysts. The MRI findings were evaluated by radiologists who were blinded to exposure status and symptoms. Results. An exposure-response relationship was found between lifetime upper arm elevation and supraspinatus tendinopathy, with an age-adjusted odds ratio of 1.27 (95% confidence interval 1.02-1.60) for a 5-month increase in the total number of full-time working months spent with the arm elevated > 90degrees. Conclusion. Work with the arms in a highly elevated position is associated with MRI-diagnosed alterations in the supraspinatus tendon. By demonstrating the first part of a possible biologic pathway, the study corroborates the work-relatedness of rotator cuff disorders.}},
  author       = {{Svendsen, SW and Gelineck, J and Mathiassen, Svend Erik and Bonde, JP and Frich, LH and Stengaard-Pedersen, K and Egund, N}},
  issn         = {{1529-0131}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{3314--3322}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Arthritis and Rheumatism}},
  title        = {{Work above shoulder level and degenerative alterations of the rotator cuff tendons - A magnetic resonance imaging study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/art.20495}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/art.20495}},
  volume       = {{50}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}