#0025 Risk factors for development of lower limb osteoarthritis in physically demanding occupations: A narrative umbrella review
How Physically Demanding Jobs Can Put People at Risk of Lower Limb Joint Pain
Osteoarthritis is a painful and potentially disabling joint disorder that can slowly worsen over many years. The prevalence of osteoarthritis is rising, and scientists believe that this increase may be partly due to increasing rates of overweight and obesity—both of which are known risk factors for osteoarthritis. Other known risk factors include previous joint injuries, participation in competitive sports, and certain occupational risk factors, such as frequently having to lift heavy loads while on the job.
In this study, we scoured the available literature to find peer-reviewed English-language articles that looked at risk factors for osteoarthritis of the lower limbs in people with physically demanding occupations. Our search yielded 16 relevant articles, including seven that focused on knee osteoarthritis, four that focused on hip osteoarthritis, three that focused on both knee and hip osteoarthritis, and two that considered a variety of joints.
Together, these articles provided moderate-to-good evidence for heavy lifting on the job being a risk factor for knee and hip osteoarthritis. Other occupational risk factors included having to kneel, squat, or climb stairs or ladders. Crawling also turned out to be a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis, and climbing stairs was listed as a possible risk factor for foot osteoarthritis. Previous joint injuries and being overweight or obese could also be added to the list.
These findings offer important clues for reducing osteoarthritis risk for people in physically demanding roles. Efforts to decrease the need for heavy lifting, squatting, kneeling, and climbing may have protective effects. Further, avoiding joint injuries, treating such injuries adequately when they do occur, and helping overweight or obese people engage in weight-loss activities can also help prevent the disease. If such action is taken, perhaps osteoarthritis can eventually become only a small portion of the global burden of disease.
Link to the original journal article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/1348-9585.12103
Title of the paper:
Risk factors for development of lower limb osteoarthritis in physically demanding occupations: A narrative umbrella review
Authors:
Ben Schram, Robin Orr, Rodney Pope, Elisa Canetti, Joseph Knapik
