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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 5/2008

01-04-2008 | Original Article

A prospective cohort study of manipulative dexterity in vibration-exposed workers

Authors: Francesca Rui, Flavia D’Agostin, Corrado Negro, Massimo Bovenzi

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 5/2008

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the relation between manipulative dexterity and vibration exposure, ergonomic risk factors, and upper limb disorders in a group of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV).

Methods

Manipulative dexterity was investigated on 115 HTV workers (82 forestry workers and 33 stone workers) and 64 control men over 1-year follow-up period. The Purdue pegboard method was used to test manipulative dexterity which was scored for the dominant hand, non-dominant hand, and both hands. Information about individual, work and health history was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Vibration exposure was assessed in terms of tool vibration magnitudes, daily and total exposure duration, and cumulative vibration dose.

Results

On the cross-sectional investigation, Purdue pegboard scores were significantly lower in the HTV workers than in the controls (0.001 < P < 0.05). Over 1-year follow-up period, Purdue pegboard scores were found to be inversely related to age, smoking and use of vibratory tools (0.001 < P < 0.05). Moreover, deterioration of some measures of manipulative dexterity was significantly associated with sensorineural and vascular symptoms in the fingers of the HTV workers. Random-intercept linear regression analysis showed that Purdue pegboard scores decreased with the increase of vibration exposure. The reduction of assembly score (i.e. number of pins, collars, and washers assembled in a 60-s period) was significantly associated with the increase in vibration exposure and ergonomic stress (neck-upper arm posture, hand-intensive work, and total ergonomic score). Purdue pegboard scores tended to improve over the follow-up period in both the controls and the HTV workers, suggesting a possible learning effect over time.

Conclusion

The findings of this longitudinal study suggest an association between deterioration of manipulative dexterity and neurovascular symptoms in the fingers of HTV workers. There was evidence for a significant relation between loss of precise manipulation and exposures to hand-transmitted vibration and ergonomic risk factors.
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Metadata
Title
A prospective cohort study of manipulative dexterity in vibration-exposed workers
Authors
Francesca Rui
Flavia D’Agostin
Corrado Negro
Massimo Bovenzi
Publication date
01-04-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 5/2008
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0256-2

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