Distal pain and carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis among cashiers: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate in a longitudinal study the yearly incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a cohort of women working as cashiers. METHOD: A total of 198 cashiers, belonging to a cohort investigated in 2011-2012 for arm pain, were screened for re-assessment in 2015 (at least 40 months from the first examination), and 156 women had complete demographic, personal and working data allowing to be included in this study. On the basis of self- and clinician-administered questionnaires investigating the presence of CTS, all symptomatic patients underwent clinical and neurophysiological [nerve conduction studies (NCS) of median and ulnar nerves] assessments. RESULTS: NCS confirmed the presence of CTS in 17 out of 149 workers; however, seven of them already received the diagnosis of CTS at the previous assessment in 2011-2012, leading to an overall incidence of new cases equal to 7.0%. Cumulative working time at the cashier of the women with CTS in the period 2012-2015 was highly variable (1744-4479 h) without an evident association with the severity of CTS. No differences in general demographic data were found in the women with vs. without CTS. Comorbidities potentially associated with increased risk of CTS were present in 21 women in the entire cohort (14.0% of the population, 40.0% in the subgroup of women with newly assessed CTS). Overweight/obesity and hypothyroidism were the most frequent comorbidities. CONCLUSION: The results of this prospective study showed that the annualized incidence of CTS in our population of cashier was 2.0%; 40% of the new CTS cases had comorbidities.

Ergonomía participativa en cajeras de una gran tienda / Participatory ergonomics among female cashiers from a department store

El objetivo de este trabajo fue controlar los riesgos disergonómicos en cajeras de una tienda de una gran empresa del sector del retail, usando ergonomía participativa, a través del conocimiento y entendimiento del sistema de la empresa, constitución del grupo de trabajo (grupo Ergo), capacitación del grupo en temas relacionados con la ergonomía, toma de decisiones e intervenciones. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 71 participantes –en su mayoría cajeras–, las cuales en el 100 por ciento tenían compromiso músculo-esquelético, y manifestaban dolor o molestia principalmente en cuello, región lumbar, muñeca derecha y hombros. Se encontró sobrecarga postural, trabajo repetitivo, manejo manual de cargas, carga mental, disconfort ambiental, variabilidad en los horarios, jornadas prolongadas, ausencia de pausas, entre otros trastornos. En la intervención los principales cambios implementados fueron el rediseño de la estación de caja, la renovación de sillas y teclados e implementación de un sistema de rotación, así como la realización de pausas con ejercicios compensatorios. Luego de la intervención se observó una notoria mejoría de las problemáticas encontradas, concluyéndose que la ergonomía participativa es una metodología atractiva, adecuada y eficaz en la solución y control de los riesgos y problemas ergonómicos.

The objective of this paper was to control ergonomic risks among female cashiers working in a department store belonging to the retail market. Participatory ergonomics was applied through knowing and understanding how the company works, establishing the work team (Ergo group), training the team in ergonomics-related topics, andmaking decisions and interventions. The sample was composed of 71 participants –mostly female cashiers–, and all of them have a musculoskeletal compromise, declaring pain or discomfort mainly in the neck, lower back, right wrist and shoulders. Among others, following problems were found: postural overload, repetitive work, manual load handling, mental fatigue, environmental discomfort, variable work schedules, extended working days, and absence of breaks. In the intervention, the main implemented changes were theredesign of workstation, complete change of chairs and keyboards, and the implementation of a rotation system, as well breaks for compensatory exercises. After that, an evident improvement of found problems was observed, therefore it can be concluded that participatoryergonomics is an attractive methodology, appropriate and efficientfor solving and controlling ergonomic risks and problems.