STANDARDS - GUIDELINES
Diagnostic guidlines for occupational epicondylitis
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1
Wojewódzki Ośrodek Medycyny Pracy Centrum Profilaktyczno-Lecznicze / Regional Center of Occupational Medicine Prophylactic
and Therapeutic Center in Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Dział Organizacji, Nadzoru i Szkolenia / Organization, Supervision and Training Department)
2
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Toksykologii, Przychodnia Chorób Zawodowych / Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology, Out-patient Clinic of Occupational Disease)
3
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi / Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(II Katedra i Klinika Rehabilitacji Medycznej / Medical Rehabilitation Clinic)
4
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Klinika Chorób Zawodowych i Toksykologii, Oddział Chorób Zawodowych / Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology, Division of Occupational Diseases)
Corresponding author
Patrycja Krawczyk-Szulc
Wojewódzki Ośrodek Medycyny Pracy
Centrum Profilaktyczno-Lecznicze w Łodzi, Dział Organizacji, Nadzoru i Szkolenia, ul. Aleksandrowska 61/63, 91-205 Łódź
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2015;66(3):443-50
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ABSTRACT
Making final decisions on the occupational etiology of musculoskeletal diseases is often difficult and problematic at every stage
of the diagnostic procedure. Taking into account the need to facilitate decision-making about the causal relationship between the
diagnosed disease entity and the working conditions guidelines for the recognition of work-related musculoskeletal diseases have
been developed. This paper presents the guidelines for the diagnosis of occupational etiology of humeral epicondylitis, one of the
most common occupational disease of the musculoskeletal system in Poland. The developed guidelines have been based on the
literature data concerning occupational risk factors of humeral epicondylitis, workload classification, including repetitive movements,
awkward postures, and force. Some criteria applied in ergonomic evaluation methods were also included. The presented
diagnostic guidelines define approximate benchmarks for stating (after excluding non-occupational etiology) that the identified
humeral epicondylitis, is related to the way of working. Crucial work factors that should be analyzed include an operating time of
movements overloading tendons connecting to the epicondyle, repetition and force used to perform occupational activities. The
developed guidelines are aimed to facilitate occupational physicians diagnostic and certification procedures in case of humeral
epicondylitis and determination whether there is a likelihood of its occupational etiology. Med Pr 2015;66(3):443–450