During the pruning season, tea growers work longer hours, and many present symptoms of ifferent varieties from overwork.
A recent survey conducted by the authors showed that increased loads are placed on the elbow of the farmers engaged in tea-tree pruning. In some cases, changes in the elbow joint structure were visible on X-ray films.
1. Total number of the subjects covered: 47 (25 men and 22 women)
2. Age: 32-89 (53.7±12.2)
3. Average number of years engaged in the work: 31.8±15.7 for men: 26.9±4.53 for women
4. Working hours per day: 8.30±2.51 (Thirteen persons or 27.6% said that they work more than nine hours.)
5. Chief complaints and symptoms: pain in the elbow region and the outside of the forearm
6. Radiographic findings: arthropathy 58.3%: normal 41.7%
7. Impairment in mobility of the joint: minor degree

Over the past three years, we have treated 10 patients suffering from delayed ulnar nerve paralysis. Of the patients, five were tea pickers. One tea picker had both elbows affected. With one exception, the cases were diagnosed as degenerative arthropathy. All the patients were of advanced age.
When they first visited our hospital, their chief complaint was numbness in the hand, which was subsequntly confirmed clinically. They did not complain about muscular atrophy of the hand and clawhand deformity.
Surgical operation was performed on the patients, excepting one case. After operation, theyfared well. Subjective symptoms were improved. However, clinical evaluation did not always agree with the degree of satisfaction on the part of the patients.

In the central part of Shizuoka Prefecture, tea growing is carried out on hillsides. From the posture taken by farmers while they are picking tea-leaves, it is assumed that a heavy load is laid on the cervical region and that they must have complaints in that region frequently.
On this assumption, we have conducted a survey covering a total of 228 persons working in tea plantations, with 42 persons living in plains as a control group.
Of the total, 172 persons filled out a questionnaire and the remaining 56 underwent a physical checkup.
Of those surveyed, 92.8% said that they feel fatigued from work. Complaints in the cervical region were filed by 69.5% of the males and 89.0% of the females.
X-ray pictures revealed abnormal signs in 69.5% of the males and 89.0% of the females. Radiographic observation suggested that 77.0% of the abnormalities have some bearing on their complaints. It was also found that the stiffness in the shoulders accounted for most of the complaints.
From these findings, we have keenly felt it is necessary for us to continue to engourage them into practicing calisthenics designed to prevent the stiffness in the shoulders.

Investigation was made into knee joint problems among tea pickers through a questionnaire. Following this, physical examinations were given and radiography was taken.
Of the male respondents, 18.9% said that they have pains in the knee (s). The corresponding figure for the women was a high as 38.5%. The number of men and women who complained of knee pain increased with age. However, it was not clear whether the incidence of knee pain has any bearing on the number of years they had worked or working hours per day. Rather, it seems to depend on the configuration of the plantation.
Knee pain occurs more frequently in persons working on sloping and hilly lands than those working on flat land. The difference in Q-angle is wider in the hilly area than in the flat land.
X-ray examination of the knee joint of the persons who complained of sensations revealed degenerative changes in the form of the synovial cavity. Changes in the form of the patella were more evident in the persons working on the sloping land than on the flat land.
On the slope, tea pickers have to bend their knees, requring femoral quadriceps and crural triceps to maintain contraction for cours. Thus the level of stress on the kneecaps becomes high.
To prevent knee joint injuries, improvement of footings, mechanization of collecting work, decreases in the frequency of decending and ascending the slop, and having a rest at proper intervals are necessary.
Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen femoral quadriceps by excercise and control weight.