Original scientific paper
Occupation and physical load as risk factors in the prevalence of degenerative diseases of joints and spine
L. Krapac
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
M. Mimica
; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The prevalence of degenerative rheumatic diseases of the spine and joints was studied in a population sample aged 35-57 years. The sample consisted of 1624 men and 1745 women from the communities of several continental and coastal towns. The diagnosis was based on subjective symptoms and objective signs observed at detailed clinical examination of the bone joint system. Clinically determined osteoarthrotic changes were graded from 1 to s. Congenital malformations with static disturbances and posttraumatic conditions were also recorded. Data about the present, past and part time occupation or hobby, posture of the body at work and physical load at work were collected. A possible association between occupation, physical load and unfavourable posture of the body at work and occurrence of degenerative rheumatic diseases of the spine and joints was analyzed by means of the computer. No pronounced connection between occupation and osteoarthrosis was found which points out that with average physical loads the rate of degenerative diseases of joints and spine is not likely to be greatly increased. Still, more often than in the average population degenerative changes of the spine and joints were observed in farmers, pensioners, housewives and unskilled workers of both sexes. In female subjects osteoarthrosis of the spine was more often found among office workers with intermediate specialist's training. Similar data were obtained by analysis of the past and part time occupations. In men and women whose job requires walking posture and load carrying we found more degenerative rheumatic diseases of the joints than in other population groups.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
165903
URI
Publication date:
16.12.1976.
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