Working postures in 116 microwave-oven assemblers were measured and analysed using postural load scores of body parts in 137 workers complaining the cervicobrachial syndrome (CBS). The relationship between postural load scores of body parts and the grades of CBS was observed. Results were summarized as follows. 1. The height of work-table and work-seat, the thumb tip reach, the shoulder angle, the elbow angle and the forward bending angle of body trunk exceeded the recommended level and therefore they seemed to impose increased static postural loads on muscles of neck and shoulder as well as static and/or dynamic load on arm and hand muscles. 2. The postural load score of shoulder in grade II was significantly lower than that in grade III-2 and IV and those of elbow, neck+shoulder, elbow+wrist and upper extremity were significantly lower in grade II than in grade Iv. These results suggested that the awkward working postures were associated with the occurrence of CBS as well as the severity of CBS.
Arm ; Elbow ; Hand ; Human Body ; Muscles ; Neck ; Posture* ; Shoulder ; Thumb ; Upper Extremity

473 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery of the upper extremities from July 1978 to August 1983 were studied and the results are as follows. 1) Among 473 patients 294 patients given general anesthesis. Axillary brachial piexus block(141 cases), intraveonus regional anesthesia(10 cases), interscalene block(2 cases) and continuous brachial plexus block were given to the rest of the patients. 2) 267 patients were male and 106 patients were female. Age distribution was from 2 to 74 years. 3) Physical status of the patients was A.S.A. (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class 2(52.5%), class 1(43.4%), class 3(4.4%) in the order. 47.2% of the patients underwent emergency operation. 4) There was a tendency that regional anesthesis has been increasing year by year. 5) The type of operations were open reduction(160cases), tendon repair(112cases), and surgery for neuropathy(65 cases). 6) The operations for upper arm, elbow, and forearm were performed mostly under general anesthesia, while regional anesthesia prevailled for hand, wrist, and digits operations. 7) Brachial plexus block was considered as a method of choice for upper extremity surgery, especially for emergency surgical procedures in patients with significant medical problems. 8) A new method was tried in which a flexible disaposable intravenous catheter was introduced into the neurovascular sheath in the axilla and used for injection of local anesthetic solutions to block the axillary brachial plexus. The catheter method constitutes an interesting alternative to the conventional needle techniques and offers a continuous axillary block and a method for postoperative pain relief.
Age Distribution ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Axilla ; Brachial Plexus ; Catheters ; Elbow ; Emergencies ; Female ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Orthopedics ; Pain, Postoperative ; Tendons ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

Golf has become an increasingly popular sport worldwide. Although often perceived as a leisurely activity, golf can be a demanding sport, which can result in injury, usually from variety of reasons. While the majority of injuries in golf are attributable to overuse, acute traumatic injuries can also occur. As the body is directly linked to the golf club, the upper extremities are especially prone to injury. This article focuses on the upper extremity injuries in golf, including a discussion of the epidemiology, cause, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries occurring in shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.
Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Epidemiology ; Golf ; Hand ; Shoulder ; Sports ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

Upper extremity replantation is relatively less commonly performed than finger or hand replantation. We have experienced one case of forearm replantation and one case of upper arm replantation. After the replantation, limb volume at the biceps brachii muscle level below the replantation level appeared to be appropriate, however, the motor function of the muscles and the sensitivity were disappointing. For replantation of forearm and upper arm, restoration of the motor function and sensitivity of the extremity below the amputation level as well as the morphologic reconstruction have to be considered.
Amputation ; Arm* ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Forearm* ; Hand ; Muscles ; Replantation* ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and related factors of upper limb musculoskeltal symptoms among workers in automobile related jobs. METHODS: Two-hundred and twenty-one workers were volunteered in this 'study consisting of 112 seat installers and 109 auto mechanics. A questionnaire was administered to the workers consisting of questions on demographics, work type and duration, sleep hours, health habits, and standardized descriptions of NJOSH on musculoskeletal symptoms. RESULTS: Complaint rates of neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms by anatomical site were as follows: shoulder, 52.0%; neck, 47.1%; wrist and hand, 39.4 elbow, 26.2% and; arm, 24.4%. Significantly higher prevalence of shoulder musculoskele tal symptom was found in middle school than high school graduate, married than unmar ned, less than 6 hours sleep than over 6 hours sleep and, seat installer than auto mechanic group. A significantly higher prevalence of arm, elbow, hand and wrist mus loskeletal symptoms was disclosed in the less than 6 hours sleep than over 6 hours sleep group and the seat installer than the auto mechanic group. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified education, sleep hours and, job type as the main affecting factors for shoulder musculoskeletal symptoms. Sleep hours and job type were the main affecting factors for wrist and hand musculoskeletal symptoms. Sleep hours were the main affecting factors for arm and elbow musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of neck and upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms was high in workers who did routine tasks at confined places like seat install-line work. It is recommended that workers performing simple and routine tasks be provided adequate sleep time since lack of sleep was the main affecting factor for most upper limb mus loskeletal symptoms in automobile factory related jobs workers.
Animals ; Arm ; Automobiles* ; Demography ; Education ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mechanics ; Mice ; Neck ; Prevalence* ; Questionnaires ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

Upper limb amputations usually leave a significant functional limitation in activities of daily living for the amputees despite the use of a conventional prosthesis. New developments in prosthetic design have greatly increased the rehabilitation potential for active individuals with the upper limb amputation. The application of external power to artificial hands and elbow, and elimination of the control cables, the most unpopular feature of body-powered arms, has had a great impact on upper-limb prosthetics in the last two decades. We applied a myoelectric hand to a traumatic amputee with wrist disarticulation. As a result, it was possible to provide a considerable improvement in function and cosmesis with this new device. Further research will undoubtly improve the appearance, function and durability of the present electrically powered myoelectrical hand, making them even more acceptable and useful to the upper limb amputees.
Activities of Daily Living ; Amputation ; Amputees ; Arm ; Disarticulation* ; Elbow ; Hand* ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rehabilitation ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist*

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation(FES) with multi-joints coordinate movement compared to electric muscular stimulation for mono-joint movement in enhancing the upper extremity motor and functional recovery of hemiplegic survivors. METHODS: Forty patients with hemiplegia were divided into two groups. The FES group received FES to produce hand grip, elbow flexion, elbow extension and hand release in sequence with voluntary movement. Control group received electrical stimulation to produce wrist extension without voluntary movement. All groups received for 20 minutes per session, twice a day, 5 days a week during 4 weeks and under the same occupational and physical therapies during 4 weeks. Outcomes were assessed in a blinded manner with the upper extremity component of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment, the self-care component of the Modified Barthel Index(MBI), Upper extremity muscle strength, Wolf Motor Function Test(WMFT), spasticity, and Range of motion(ROM) of shoulder before and after treatment. RESULTS: There were significant improvements of the power at shoulder & elbow flexion, WMFT, Fugl-Meyer, hand grip, and MBI in both group(p<0.05). ROM of shoulder, the power of wrist extension, and pinch improved only at the FES group(p<0.05). The FES group had better effects at WMFT, Fugl-Meyer, hand grip, pinch, MBI, shoulder ROM, and spasticity after treatment(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that FES and multi-joints coordinate movements are better than electric muscular stimulation for mono-joint movement to enhance the upper extremity functional recovery in hemiplegia.
Arm ; Elbow ; Electric Stimulation ; Hand ; Hand Strength ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; Self Care ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity ; Wolves ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate newly designed orthosis to control contracture of the shoulder and the forearm in the spastic upper limb. METHOD: Subjects were 6 hemiplegic patients and 1 tetraplegic patient who showed the features of spasticity. Volar wrist hand orthosis was modified to attach a plastic stick which can be easily separated. The orthosis was applied in supinated position for 8 weeks. The shoulder and elbow range of motion was measured every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The subjects with spasticity showed significant improvement in the shoulder abduction (p<0.05), adduction (p<0.05) and external rotation (p<0.05) after applying modified volar wrist hand orthosis for 8 weeks. The forearm supination was well maintained for 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: The newly designed orthosis showed significant effects in the improvement of the shoulder abduction, adduction and external rotation and the forearm supination of spastic upper limbs.
Contracture* ; Elbow ; Forearm* ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Orthotic Devices* ; Plastics ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder* ; Supination ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors related to upper extremities work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in cameramen. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was performed on 166 cameramen in a broadcasting station. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the general characteristics, the health behavior, work type and duration, physical burden, ergonomic posture, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Definition of musculoskeletal disorders was based on NIOSH criteria. RESULTS: The positive rate of WRMSDs symptoms by parts of the body was turned out to be the highest in the shoulder (14.5%) and the lowest in arm and elbow (6%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that symptoms in the shoulders increased with BMI (OR = 3.62, 95% CI = 1.03-12.71), physical burden (OR = 9.29, 95% CI = 1.72-61.78 in the very hard group) and ergonomic factors (OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 1.03-19.68). Ergonomic factors were only related to the symptoms of hand and wrist (OR = 10.21, 95% CI = 1.02-102.20). WRMSDs symptoms, in the whole upper extremities, were higher in the 50 or older age group (OR = 5.86, 95% CI = 1.03-33.26), higher BMI group (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.28-13.53), non-exercise group (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.24-12.59), high physical burden group (OR = 7.6, 95% CI = 1.34-52.74), and high grade ergonomic risk group (OR = 4.82, 95% CI = 1.29-16.06). CONCLUSION: The most serious musculoskeletal disorders of male cameramen were shoulder pain. Ergonomic factors and physical burden were the most significant factors affecting WRMSDs in cameramen in this study. Cameramen should be educated to be able to improve the ergonomic occupational environment and to set up preventive measures against the risk factors during work.
Arm ; Elbow ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Human Engineering ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Occupational Diseases ; Posture ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist

Musculoskeletal problems in the upper extremity after stroke are common conditions affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, which are often symptomatic. These symptomatic conditions include complex regional pain syndrome type 1, secondary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder, spasticity, secondary mechanical injuries, which often presents simultaneously in combined nature, so that one targeted treatment is not always successful. Musculoskeletal pain and complication is one of the reasons, for patients not being possible to start or participate in the daily regular rehabilitation programs actively after stroke.
Bursitis ; Elbow ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Pain ; Stroke* ; Upper Extremity* ; Wrist