Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 113-135 , February 2003

Pain in the forearm, wrist and hand

  • Keith T. Palmer, ma, dm, ffom, mrcgp (MRC Clinical Scientist and Consultant Occupational Physician)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationTel.: +44-1703-777-624; Fax: +44-1703-704-021. E-mail address: ktp@mrc.soton.ac.uk (K. T. Palmer).

Received 1 September 2002 ,Accepted 1 September 2002.

References 

  1. Cyriax JH. Diagnosis of soft-tissue lesions. Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine. London: Ballière Tindall; 1982;
  2. Palmer K, Coggon D, Cooper C, Doherty M. Work-related upper limb disorders: getting down to specifics. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1998;57:445–446
  3. Thompson AR, Plewes LW, Shaw EG. Peritendinitis crepitans and simple tenosynovitis: a clinical study of 544 cases in industry. British Journal of Industrial Medicine. 1951;8:150–160
  4. Finkelstein H. Stenosing tendovaginitis at the radial styloid process. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 1930;12-A:509–540
  5. Moore JS. de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 1997;39:990–1002
  6. Szabo RM, Slater RR, Farver TB, et al.  The value of diagnostic testing in carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1999;24-A:704–714
  7. Gerr F, Letz R. The sensitivity and specificity of tests for carpal tunnel syndrome vary with the comparison groups. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1998;23-B:151–155
  8. Franzblau A, Werner RA. What is carpal tunnel syndrome?. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999;282:186–187
  9. Gelberman RH, Aronson D, Weisman MH. Carpal tunnel syndrome: results of a prospective trial of steroid injection and splinting. Journal of Bone Surgery (A). 1980;62:1181–1184
  10. Haupt WF, Wintzer G, Schop A, et al.  Tunnel decompression. Journal of Hand Surgery (B). 1993;18:471–474
  11. Miller MH, Topliss DJ. Chronic upper limb pain syndrome (repetitive strain injury) in the Australian workforce: a systematic cross sectional rheumatological study of 229 patients. Journal of Rheumatology. 1988;15:1705–1712
  12. Wigley RD. Repetitive strain syndrome – fact not fiction. New Zealand Medical Journal. 1990;103:75–76
  13. Health and Safety Commission . Health and Safety Statistics 1999/2000. Sudbury: HSE Books; 2000;
  14. Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilborn A, et al.  Standardized Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Applied Ergonomics. 1987;18:233–237
  15. Buchbinder R, Goel V, Bombardier C, Hogg-Johnson S. Classification systems of soft-tissue disorders of the neck and upper limb: do they satisfy methodological guidelines?. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 1996;49:141–149
  16. Waris P, Kuorinka I, Kurppa K. Epidemiological screening of occupational neck and upper limb disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1979;6:25–38
  17. Viikari-Juntura E. Neck and upper limb disorders among slaughterhouse workers: an epidemiologic and clinical study. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1983;9:283–290
  18. McCormack RR, Inman RD, Wells A, et al.  Prevalence of tendinitis and related disorders of the upper extremity in a manufacturing workforce. Journal of Rheumatology. 1990;17:958–964
  19. Silverstein BA. The prevalence of upper extremity cumulative disorders in industry (thesis). The University of Michigan: Occupational Health and Safety: 1985.
  20. Palmer K, Walker-Bone K, Linaker C, et al.  The Southampton examination schedule for the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2000;59:5–11
  21. Sluiter JK, Rest KM, Frings-Dresen MH. Criteria document for evaluating the work-relatedness of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 2001;27(supplement 1):1–102
  22. Harrington JM, Carter JT, Birrell L, Gompertz D. Surveillance case definitions for work-related upper limb pain syndromes. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 1998;55:264–271
  23. Walker-Bone K, Byng T, Linaker C, et al.  Reliability of the Southampton examination schedule for the diagnosis of upper limb disorders in the general population. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2002;61:103–106
  24. Cunningham LS, Kelsey JL. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal impairments and associated disability. American Journal of Public Health. 1984;74:574–579
  25. Takala J, Sievers K, Klaukka T. Rheumatic symptoms in the middle-aged population in south-western Finland. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology. 1982;47:15–29
  26. Palmer KT, Syddall H, Cooper C, Coggon D. Smoking and musculoskeletal disorders: findings from a British national survey. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2003;62:33–36
  27. Urwin M, Symmons D, Allison T, et al.  Estimating the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the community: the comparative prevalence of symptoms at different anatomical sites, and their relation to social deprivation. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1998;57:649–655
  28. Macfarlane GJ, Hunt IM, Silman A. Role of mechanical and psychosocial factors in the onset of forearm pain: prospective population based study. British Medical Journal. 2000;321:676–679
  29. Andersson HI. The epidemiology of chronic pain in a Swedish rural area. Quality of Life Research. 1994;3(supplement 1):):S19–S26
  30. McCormick A, Fleming D, Charlton J. Series MB5 No 3. Series MB5 No 3. London: HMSO; 1992;
  31. Kurppa K, Viikari-Juntura E, Kuosma E, et al.  Incidence of tenosynovitis or peritendinitis and epicondylitis in a meat-processing factory. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1991;17:32–37
  32. Ferry S, Pritchard T, Keenan J, Spaans F. Estimating the prevalence of delayed median nerve conduction in the general population. British Journal of Rheumatology. 1998;37:630–635
  33. de Krom MCTFM, Kester ADM, Knipschild PG, Spaans F. Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome. American Journal of Epidemiology. 1990;132:1102–1110
  34. Ferry S, Silman A, Pritchard T, et al.  The association between different patterns of hand symptoms and objective evidence of median nerve compression: a community-based survey. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 1998;41:720–724
  35. Atroshi I, Gummesson C, Johnsson R, et al.  Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in the general population. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999;282:153–158
  36. Ferry S, Pritchard T, Keenan J, et al.  Is delayed nerve conduction associated with increased self-reported disability in individuals with hand symptoms?. Journal of Rheumatology. 1998;25:1616–1619
  37. Stevens JC, Sun S, Beard CM, et al.  Carpal tunnel syndrome in Rochester, Minnesota, 1961 to 1980. Neurology. 1988;38:134–138
  38. Vessey MP, Villard Mackintosh L, Yeates D. Epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome in women of childbearing age. Findings in a large cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology. 1990;19:655–659
  39. Nordstrom DL, DeStefano F, Vierkant RA, Layde PM. Incidence of diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population. Epidemiology. 1998;9:342–345
  40. Lawrence LRC, Hochberg MC, Kelsey JL, et al.  Estimates of the prevalence of selected arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders in the United States. Journal of Rheumatology. 1989;16:427–441
  41. Van Sasse JLCM, Van Romunde LKJ, Cats A, et al.  Epidemiology of osteoarthritis: Zoertermeer survey. Comparison of radiologic osteoarthritis in a Dutch population with that in 10 other populations. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 1989;48:271–280
  42. Spector TD. Rheumatoid arthritis. In:  Hochberg MC editors. Epidemiology of Rheumatic Diseases. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1990;p. 513–537
  43. Symmonds DP, Barrett EM, Bankhead CR, et al.  The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United Kingdom: results from the Norfolk Arthritis Register. British Journal of Rheumatology. 1994;33:735–739
  44. Gun RT. The incidence and distribution of RSI in South Australia 1980–81 to 1986–87. Medical Journal of Australia. 1990;153:376–380
  45. Great Britain and Ireland Post Office . Departmental Committee on telegraphist's Cramp Report. London: HMSO; 1911;
  46. Nakaseko M, Tokunga R, Hosokawa M. History of occupational cervicobrachial disorder in Japan. Journal of Human Ergol. 1982;11:7–16
  47. Harris JE. Proceedings of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons/Royal Australia College of Physicians Seminar Disability in the workforce. Proceedings of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons/Royal Australia College of Physicians Seminar Disability in the workforce. RACS/RACP; 1984;
  48. Hocking B. Epidemiological aspects of ‘repetition strain injury’ in Telecom Australia. Medical Journal of Australia. 1987;147:218–222
  49. Hadler N. Illness in the workplace: the challenge of musculoskeletal symptoms. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1985;10A:451–456
  50. Ireland DCR. Psychological and physical aspects of occupational arm pain. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1985;13B:5–10
  51. Silverstein BA, Fine LJ, Armstrong TJ. Occupational factors and carpal tunnel syndrome. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 1987;11:343–358
  52. Roto P, Kivi P. Prevalence of epicondylitis and tenosynovitis among meatcutters. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1984;10:203–205
  53. Andersen JH, Gaardboe O. Musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limb among sewing machine operators: a clinical investigation. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 1993;24:689–700
  54. Chiang H-C, Yin-Ching K, Chen S-S, et al.  Prevalence of shoulder and upper-limb disorders among workers in the fish-processing industry. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1993;19:126–131
  55. Punnett L, Robins JM, Wegman DH, Keyserling WM. Soft-tissue disorders in the upper limbs of female garment workers. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1985;11:417–425
  56. Kuorinka I, Koskinen P. Occupational rheumatic diseases and upper limb strain in manual jobs in a light mechanical industry. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1979;5:39–47
  57. Luopajarvi T, Kuorinka I, Virolainen M, Holmberg M. Prevalence of tenosynovitis and other injuries of the upper extremities in repetitive work. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1979;5(supplement 3):48–55
  58. Armstrong TJ, Fine LJ, Goldstein SA, et al.  Ergonomic considerations in hand and wrist tendinitis. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1987;12-A:830–837
  59. Amano M, Umeda G, Nakajima H, et al.  Characteristics of work actions of shoe manufacturing assembly line workers and a cross sectional factor control study on occupational cervicobrachial disorders. Japan Journal of Industrial Health. 1988;30:3–12
  60. Bystrom S, Hall C, Welander T, Kilbom A. Clinical disorders and pressure-pain threshold of the forearm and hand among automobile assembly line workers. Journal of Hand Surgery. 1995;20-B:782–790
  61. Hagberg M, Morgenstern H, Kelsh M. Impact of occupations and job tasks on the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1992;18:337–345
  62. Cannon LJ, Bernacki EJ, Walter SD. Personal and occupational factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of Occupational Medicine. 1981;23:255–258
  63. Wieslander G, Norback D, Gothe CJ, Juhlin L. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and exposure to vibration, repetitive wrist movements, and heavy manual work: a case-referent study. British Journal of Industrial Medicine. 1989;46:43–47
  64. Voog L, de Laval J, Ahlborg G, Holm Glad J. Report project 82-0545. Report project 82-0545. Stockholm: Swedish Work Environment Fund; 1985;
  65. Bongers PM, De Winter CR, Kompier MAJ, Hildebrandt VH. Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health. 1993;19:297–312
  66. Karasek RA. Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: implications for job redesign. Administrative Science Quarterly. 1979;24:285–307
  67. Huang GD, Feuerstein M, Sauter SL. Occupational stress and work-related upper extremity disorders: concepts and models. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:298–314
  68. Siegrist J. Adverse health effects of effort-reward imbalance at work: theory, empirical support, and implications for prevention. In:  Cooper CL editors. Theories of Organisational Stress. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1998;p. 190–204
  69. Cioffi D. Somatic interpretation in cumulative trauma disorders. A social cognitive analysis. In:  Moon SD,  Sauter SL editor. Beyond Biomechanics: Psychosocial Aspects of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Office Work. Bristol PA: Taylor and Francis; 1996;p. 43–63
  70. Waddell G. The Back Pain Revolution. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1998;
  71. Bongers P, Kremer AM, ter Laak J. Are psychosocial factors, risk factors for symptoms and signs of the shoulder, elbow or hand/wrist? A review of the epidemiological literature. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:315–342
  72. Moore JS. Biomechanical models for the pathogenesis of specific distal upper extremity disorders. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:353–369
  73. Patterson DC. De Quervain's disease: stenosing tenovaginitis at the radial styloid. New England Journal of Medicine. 1936;214:101–102
  74. Janda V. Muscle strength in relation to muscle length, pain and muscle imbalance. In:  Harms-Ringdahl K editors. Muscle Strength. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1993;p. 83–91
  75. Novak CB, Mackinnon SE. Multilevel nerve compression and muscle imbalance in work-related neuromuscular disorders. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:343–352
  76. Greening J, Smart S, Leary R, et al.  Reduced movement of median nerve in carpal tunnel during wrist flexion in patients with non-specific arm pain. Lancet. 1999;354:217–218
  77. Harris AJ. Cortical origin of pathological pain. Lancet. 1999;354:1464–1466
  78. Sauter SL, Swanson NG. An ecological model of musculoskeletal disorders in office work. In:  Moon SD,  Sauter SL editor. Beyond Biomechanics: Psychosocial Aspects of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Office Work. Bristol, PA: Taylor and Francis; 1996;p. 3–21
  79. Lundberg U. Psychophysiology of work: stress, gender, endocrine response and work-related extremity disorders. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:383–392
  80. Clauw DJ, Williams DA. Relationship between stress and pain in work-related upper extremity disorders: the hidden role of chronic multisystem illnesses. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:370–382
  81. Arroyo JF, Cohen ML. Unusual responses to electrocutaneous stimulation in refractory cervicobrachial pain: clues to a neuropathic pathogenesis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 1992;10:475–482
  82. Arroyo JF, Cohen ML. Abnormal responses to electrocutaneous stimulation in fibromyalgia. Journal of Rheumatology. 1993;20:1925–1931
  83. Solomon DH, Katz JN, Bohn R, et al.  Nonoccupational risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 1999;14:310–314
  84. Health and Safety Executive . HS(G)60. HS(G)60. London: HMSO; 1990;
  85. Pransky G, Robertson MM, Moon SD. Stress and work-related upper extremity disorders: implications for prevention and management. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2002;41:443–455
  86. Coggon D, Palmer KT, Walker-Bone K. Occupation and upper limb disorders. Rheumatology. 2000;39:1057–1059
  87. Linton SJ, Andersson T. Can chronic disability be prevented? A randomised trial of cognitive behaviour intervention and two forms of information for patients with spinal pain. Spine. 2000;25:2825–2831
  88. Linton SJ, Ryberg M. A cognitive behavioural group intervention as prevention for persistent neck and back pain in a non-patient population: a randomised controlled trial. Pain. 2001;90:83–90
  89. Hagberg M, Silverstein B, Wells R, et al.  Health and risk factor surveillance for work related musculoskeletal disorders. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs): a Reference Book for Prevention. Basingstoke: Taylor and Francis; 1995;
  90. National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety . Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors. A Critical Review of Epidemiologic Evidence for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Neck, Upper Extremity, and Low Back. Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health and Human Sciences/NIOSH; 1997;
  91. National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine. Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace . Commission on Behavioural and Social Sciences and Education. Commission on Behavioural and Social Sciences and Education. Washington DC: National Academy Press; 2001;

PII: S1521-6942(02)00100-6

doi: 10.1016/S1521-6942(02)00100-6

Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology
Volume 17, Issue 1 , Pages 113-135 , February 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution