Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies have described an increased risk of developing tibio-femoral osteoarthritis (TF OA), meniscal tears and bursitis among those with a trade as floor layers. The purpose of this study was to analyse symptomatic knee disorders among floor layers that were highly exposed to kneeling work tasks compared to graphic designers without knee-demanding work tasks.MethodsData on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were collected by questionnaires. In total 134 floor layers and 120 graphic designers had a bilateral radiographic knee examination to detect TF OA and patella-femoral (PF) OA. A random sample of 92 floor layers and 49 graphic designers had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of both knees to examine meniscal tears. Means of the subscales of KOOS were compared by analysis of variance. The risk ratio of symptomatic knee disorders defined as a combination of radiological detected knee OA or MRI-detected meniscal tears combined with a low KOOS score was estimated by logistic regression in floor layers with 95% confidence interval (CI) and adjusted for age, body mass index, traumas, and knee-straining sports activities. Symptomatic knee OA or meniscal tears were defined as a combination of low KOOS-scores and radiographic or MRI pathology.ResultsSymptomatic TF and medial meniscal tears were found in floor layers compared to graphic designers with odds ratios 2.6 (95%CI 0.99-6.9) and 2.04 (95% CI 0.77-5.5), respectively. There were no differences in PF OA. Floor layers scored significantly lower on all KOOS subscales compared to graphic designers. Significantly lower scores on the KOOS subscales were also found for radiographic TF and PF OA regardless of trade but not for meniscal tears.ConclusionsThe study showed an overall increased risk of developing symptomatic TF OA in a group of floor layers with a substantial amount of kneeling work positions. Prevention would be appropriate to reduce the proportion of kneeling postures e.g. by working with tools used from a standing working position.
Highlights
Previous studies have described an increased risk of developing tibio-femoral osteoarthritis (TF Patello-femoral osteoarthritis (OA)), meniscal tears and bursitis among those with a trade as floor layers
The proportion of participation in knee-straining sports was slightly higher among graphic designers than floor layers
Symptomatic knee disorders measured by Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Floor layers scored significantly lower on all KOOS subscales compared to graphic designers
Summary
Previous studies have described an increased risk of developing tibio-femoral osteoarthritis (TF OA), meniscal tears and bursitis among those with a trade as floor layers. Previous studies described an increased risk of developing tibio-femoral osteoarthritis (TF OA) and meniscal tears among floor layers with high knee loads compared to referents without knee straining work [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Previous studies have shown that there is not necessarily a correlation between radiological findings and clinical symptoms including knee pain [7,8,9]. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was developed as an instrument to assess knee symptoms and disability. No studies have been found using the score to ascertain workrelated symptomatic knee disorders
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