News Release

Onset of forearm pain can be predicted

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

Role of mechanical and psychosocial factors in the onset of forearm pain: prospective population based study

The concept that forearm pain is caused purely by repetitive movements of the arms or wrists, particularly in the workplace, is called into question in this week's BMJ. A new study suggests that several other factors - such as high levels of psychological distress and dissatisfaction with support from colleagues at work - predict the onset of forearm pain.

Over a period of two years, researchers at the University of Manchester obtained questionnaires from more than 1,200 individuals in Greater Manchester aged 18-65 years. The questionnaire contained a picture of a blank manikin and respondents were asked to shade the site of any pain experienced during the previous month and lasting at least one day. A detailed occupational history was obtained for all participants and further information was collected for those who specifically reported forearm pain.

A total of 105 participants (8.3%) reported forearm pain, with little difference between men (8.9%) and women (7.9%). Among these, 67% also reported shoulder pain, 65% back pain and 45% chronic widespread pain. This is consistent with the view that forearm pain rarely occurs in isolation from other regional pain syndromes, say the authors. In the workplace, repetitive movements of the arms or wrists and dissatisfaction with support from supervisors and colleagues were associated with the highest risk of future forearm pain. The authors also found that high levels of psychological distress, presence of other physical symptoms and general anxiety about health were all important predictors of forearm pain.

This study emphasises the multifactorial nature of forearm pain in the population, say the authors. They suggest that misleading terms such as "repetitive strain injury" - implying a single uniform cause - should be avoided.

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Contact:

Professor Gary Macfarlane, Unit of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Email: G.Macfarlane@man.ac.uk



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