A study of various function tests on the upper extremities for vibration syndrome.

Abstract

For early diagnosis of vibration syndrome, it is necessary to detect the insidious functional disorders which appear without organic changes in it's early stage. In Japan, peripheral circulation and sensory tests, including tests after cold water immersion, and functional capacity motor tests are performed widely on the upper extremities. We have examined workers exposed to three kinds of vibration, and control workers, using these function tests, and analyzed the data with the use of principal component analysis. As a result, these function tests were considered to be of diagnostic significance as a screening test for vibration syndrome. It is also suspected that peripheral circulation disturbance, sensory disturbance and motor disturbance found in vibration syndrome advance independently of each other. Disparities in the findings of vibration syndrome were recognized and were attributed to differences of work conditions.