February/March 2008 (vol. 04/5)

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Osteoarthritis – the occupational risks

A systematic literature review found a significantly increased risk of developing hip osteoarthritis (OA) with heavy physical lifting at work in 12 of 14 published studies. There was also a significant risk associated with farming (found in 13 of 14 studies) and a lesser but nevertheless significant risk in construction work (four of six studies). There was ‘moderate to strong’ evidence of a causal relationship for both heavy lifting and for farming. Three out of five studies found significant associations of hip OA and frequent occupational exposure to climbing stairs or ladders, but evidence for a causal relationship was weak.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2008; 65(1); 6–19.  http://oem.bmj.com/content/65/1/6.abstract

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Occupational Health at Work February/March 2008 (vol. 04/5) pp36