PubMed · 11490685
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D Belt. 2001. Proverbs shine light on ergonomics.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11490685/
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Writer's cramp is a task-specific focal hand dystonia. The abnormality of task specificity is a curious one and indicates that we need to learn more about the coupling of motor programs and their effectors. Writer's cramp appears to be triggered by spending much time writing by an individual with a fertile physiological substrate for producing the disorder. The fertile background, which is likely genetic, may be a decrease of inhibition, an increase of plasticity or an impairment in sensory function. Recent pathophysiological findings have implications for new therapies.
In industrialized countries, upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders (UL-WMSDs) are the most common form of occupational diseases. They are generating a growing population of workers with reduced working capacity. The link between these pathologies and different aspects of work organization has been convincingly proven. Recent experiences in Europe supporting the combination of traditional work design methods used in manufacturing companies with ergonomics methods are reported briefly, with special focus on the use of the occupational repetitive action (OCRA) method for risk assessment and management of manual repetitive tasks. The combined approach strives to achieve the goal of maintaining a satisfactory level of productivity while respecting ergonomics criteria and, definitely, workers' health. New ergonomics standards provide for interaction between job and machinery designers and ergonomists in the design of work processes and workplaces. These standards generally refer only to the healthy adult working population and do not always provide criteria for protecting particular working populations, such as that represented by workers affected by UL-WMSDs. The results of preliminary studies concerning productive re-employment of workers with UL-WMSDs allow the introduction of some criteria for implementing current ergonomics standards in this connection. One aim of this paper is to summarize experiences of close cooperation between ergonomists, machinery designers and job designers to guarantee productivity and the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. A second aim is to examine current ergonomics standards in the field of manual physical work (designed for healthy workers) and to suggest preliminary criteria for their implementation taking into account the capabilities and needs of specific sub-groups of the working population.
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