Studies on the cervicobrachial disorder among cash register operators. Part 2. A review on clinical findings and working conditions of patients

Abstract

Complaints, clinical findings and working conditions of the patients suffering from occupational cervicobrachial disorders (OCD) were discussed, with special reference to the prognosis of the patients. Subjects were 120 cash register operators with OCD engaged in supermarkets at which the authors participated in the health care activities for the prevention of the disorder. Thirty-three of them suffered from the disorder after getting well from the first onset. The authors discussed on the relationship between complaints and clinical findings of the patients and duration needed for recovery, the relationship between clinical finding and complaints of "the upper extremities" by the questionnaire of "complaints in daily life" and the relations of appearance of lowered grip strength to complaints and clinical findings. Case studies were also examined as to the influence of working conditions on the prognosis of the patients. Results were summerized as follows. 1. The severer the grade of OCD, the longer the duration needed to recover. 2. There were more complaints of arms, "the upper extremities" and "the legs", increased appearance of lowered back strength, cinesalgia of the shoulder, neck, and wrist joints, paresthesia, positiveness of Morley's test and muscle tenderness in the extensor muscles in the fingers, neck, back and so on among the patients with delayed recovery than among those recovered within 3 months. 3. Lowered back strength, muscle tenderness in the neck and in various sites of the body were observed more among the patients with many complaints of "the upper extremities" than among those without. 4. Lowered grip strength was not considered to be useful for early diagnosis of the patients. 5. Such working conditions, as carrying heavy goods and keeping upper extremities raised for a long time were considered to hamper the recovery of the disorder.