Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Keyboard Operators in Brazil: A Cross-sectional Study.

AbstractThis study sought to determine the prevalenee of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) among keyboard operators in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and to compare this prevalence with that among other office workers. One hundred and thirty keyboard operators (mean age 33 years, 60 male/70 female) and 138 office workers (mean age 35 years, 82 male/66 female) from two computing centers were interviewed by a research assistant using a standardized questionnaire. Symptomatic subjects, defined as those who reported upper extremity pain or lost work time due to pain in the preceding 12 month, were examined by a rheum-tologist. Mean (SD) lengths of employment were 9 (6) years for keyboard operators and 8 (6) years for office workers. Upper-extremity pain during the preceding seven days was reported by 66 keyboard operators (51%) and by 18 office workers (13%) (p < 0.0001); during the preceding 12 months, by 90 keyboard operators (69%) and by 26 office workers (19%) (p < 0.0001). UEMSDs were diagnosed foll...