A new NIOSH page presents research findings on upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. The information was gathered as part of a collaborative research program that NIOSH and six universities partnered to conduct back in 2000.
To date, this research program has studied more than 4,000 workers in healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and construction settings. MSD risk factors such as hand activity level, forceful exertion level, awkward postures and hand-transmitted vibration have been studied to determine the risk for work-related MSDs such as carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder disorders and upper limb tendonitis.