Biomedical subjects

L Krapac

Publications and source records attributed to L Krapac.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

[The most common overuse injury syndromes of the upper extremity associated with work activity].

Repetitive use of upper extremities, non-physiological body posture, especially of cervical spine, shoulders, lower arms, and fists are still present in modern technological processes. Innate deformities, weakness of connective tissue, accompanying morbidity (radicular symptoms, neuropathies, superior thoracic aperture syndrome, vasopathies and neuroses) are significant pathogenic overuse syndromes. Other causes of overuse syndromes are non-ergonomic tools, musical instruments, furniture, or keyboards. Lack of training for jobs involving repetitive movements, as well as job dissatisfaction are additional aggravating factors of the overuse syndrome. Polypragmasy with drug and physical therapy, insufficient rehabilitation, and questionable medical prognosis of working capacity are challenges to public health of even in richer societies. This paper describes the most common overuse syndromes of upper extremities. The aetiology of reflex dystrophy syndrome, carpal tunnel, and myofascial painful syndrome are still insufficiently explained. The paper also presents data collected in a group of 40 metal workers exposed to significant shoulder strain. They more often reported pain in the cervical spine than the control group of workers under moderate strain (45% v. 7.5%; P < 0.01), as well as pain in the shoulders (12.5% v. 5.0%) and stiffened hand (22.5%:7.5%). Symptoms were significantly more frequent in the dominant hand. A common diagnosis in a sample of 110 musicians was a change in the shoulder joint, which was more distinct in the right shoulder (10%) than in the left (7%) and comparable in the elbows (8%). The paper proceeds with cases of advanced overuse syndrome in a textile worker and cases of dissimulation in a physician and a guitarist. The paper stresses the importance of quantification of morphological and functional changes in overuse syndromes and discusses the necessity of prevention, education, early diagnosis, pharmacological and physical therapy, and rehabilitation of overuse syndromes.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Occupational overuse injury syndromes of the lower extremities] ].

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and significance of overstretching of the lower limbs in working population. Occupational etiopathogenic factors are often similar to those in sports and involve frequent repetition of single movements which cause microtraumas to the bone/joint/muscular system including the lower limbs. The resulting pain is described as the overuse syndrome. Literature reports significantly less data on working population than on athletes. This retrospective epidemiological study investigated two groups of patients. The first group consisted of 120 workers who had been on sick leave for a longer time and underwent disability review within the period of one year. The second group consisted of 86 patients in general practice who were on sick leave in one month. One third of the patients on sick leave were found one or more diseases of bone/joint/muscular system. Of patients with the overuse syndrome two were found in the first group, and two in the second. In both groups, the overuse syndrome came fourth in incidence. The results are lower than expected, particularly in athletes. The paper discusses possible reasons for these results, such as test sensitivity and criteria.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders↗

PubMed1998

[Secondary osteoporosis in men].

Although osteoporosis has been considered a disease of women, there are many evidences of high prevalence of osteoporosis in men, in which cases the risk factors are often recognised. We have presented four patients, age 39-71 years, with bone mineral density loss, which could have been connected with risk factor. Those risk factors in our patients were: malabsorpcy syndrome, heavy metal intoxication, aethilismus, smoking. We conclude that secondary osteoporosis in men appears to be an evident and growing health problem.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Rheumatic complaints and musculoskeletal disorders in workers of a meat processing industry.

The effects of unsatisfactory microclimatic conditions and forced body position on the occurrence of fatigue and pain at work and disorders of the musculoskeletal system were evaluated in 90 female workers employed in the meat processing industry. The control group consisted of 95 workers whose work did not involve repetitive operation patterns and took place in a satisfactory microclimate. The mean age of both groups was 35 years. The data on symptoms were collected through a questionnaire. Further medical and functional examination of the locomotor system was carried out in both groups. Compared to the control, a significantly higher percentage of the exposed workers complained of fatigue and pain during work and manifested marked disorders. Most of degenerative rheumatic diseases of the spine were diagnosed in both groups. Other disorders found in the exposed workers in higher prevalence than in the control were: extraarticular rheumatic diseases as fibromyalgia, humeroscapular periarthritis, and epicondylitis. This paper proposes primary and secondary prevention of rheumatic diseases for workers in the meat processing industry.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Locomotor strain syndrome in users of video display terminals.

The results of an investigation of fatigue and pain in the locomotor system are presented. The investigation comprised a group of workers (n = 56) who spent most of their working hours at video display terminals (VDTs), and a control group (n = 39) of workers with a mainly free rhythm of work and insignificant physical strain. Fatigue and pain occurred more frequently in the muscles and joints of the workers working on VDT's (78.8:59%), although the differences did not reach statistical significance. On the basis of a rheumatological examination and earlier medical documentation a diagnosis of cervical syndrome was more frequently determined in the VDT group (23.2%) than in the control group (10.3%), while low back pain was diagnosed equally in both groups (17.5%). According to subjective estimation in 46.9% of VDT workers and in 17.9% of the controls disorders were associated with unsatisfactory work conditions. The need for relaxation exercises at the workplace and for the introduction of ergonomic principles for work with VDTs is discussed, particularly with regard to adaptation of the work chair, table, text-stand and foot-rest, and the need to respect anthropometric requirements and working hours. The benefit of movement and isometric exercises at the workplace is emphasized.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Rheumatic complaints and diseases in ex-prisoners of war in Croatia in 1991. A review of medical prognosis for work capacity].

The results are presented of an examination of the locomotor system in 48 ex-prisoners of war, previously maltreated in prison camps in Serbia and occupied areas of Croatia. They were part of a group of 508 prisoners of war, examined in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb. They were all male, aged 33.9 +/- 11.56 years, in whom, after the first medical examination a rheumatological examination was indicated because of disorders of the locomotor system. Only 16.7% of the subjects had not been physically maltreated. Blows to the lumbo-sacral spine were the most frequent (43.7%), shoulders (33.4%) and the head (27.0%). Earlier rheumatic disorders were reported by 41.7% of the ex prisoners, and during the examination in our Rheumatological clinic 70.8%. In 21% of the ex-prisoners the rheumatological disorders started as a direct consequence of maltreatment in the prison camps. In one of the ex-prisoners acquisition of ankylosis spondylitis occurred and in another uric arthritis. In 50% of the ex-prisoners a marked reduction in work ability was confirmed. Disability retirement was proposed for two ex-prisoners. Optimal health treatment is discussed and medical prognosis of work ability.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Cervicobrachial syndrome--work and disability.

The subjects in the study were 114 persons receiving a disability pension or referred for disability assessment. They were placed in two groups of 57 persons each, one with marked cervicobrachial syndrome and the other without. The latter group was chosen by the method of equivalent pairs with regard to sex and age. All subjects underwent a clinical examination and a standardized questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire pertained to the state of health, focussing on the amount and type of physical burdening at the workplace and on activities outside the workplace. Sixty-five percent of the subjects were aged from 51 to 60 years. A statistically significant difference was established between earlier occupation and cervicobrachial syndrome. Cervicobrachial syndrome was found in 31.6% of unskilled workers and 12.3% of the controls (P < 0.05). A forced body posture during work was recorded in 74% of the subjects with the syndrome and in 50% of the control subjects (P < 0.05). Repetitive movements at work were reported by a large number of subjects with cervicobrachial syndrome (71.9:49.1%; P < 0.05) who also claimed to strain the arms (84.2:61.4%; P < 0.05) and burden the cervical spine (68.5:40.4%; P < 0.05) during household activities to a significantly greater extent than the controls. A possible preventive approach to the occurrence and progression of cervicobrachial syndrome is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Relation of certain psychological factors with degenerative diseases and disorders of the locomotor system].

The incidence of neuroticism, extroversion-introversion and astenic personality characteristics was studied in three groups of 50 subjects each: controls, rheumatic patients in whom subjective complaints and objective medical status of the locomotor system were not analogous, and rheumatic patients in whom complaints and objective medical status of the locomotor system were analogous. All subjects were examined by a rheumatologist and interviewed by a psychologist. The psychological methods applied were: short interview, Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and Cornell Index. According to the results of univariate analysis of variance the group of subjects with inadequate complaints had significantly higher scores on the scales of neuroticism and astenic personality characteristics than the control group and the group of subjects with adequate subjective complaints. The results of this work indicate that some health complaints can be partly attributed to superposition of symptoms and neurotic personality characteristics.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Registry for rheumatic diseases in Croatia. Initial results of a computer analysis].

The preliminary results of computer analysis of data from the Register of Rheumatic Diseases in Croatia are presented. Register has started on January 1st, 1980. There were received nearly 10,000 registration cards till the end of 1986. The data were stored on magnetic disc of IBM 4331 computer. On the basis of data from 1980-1984 the frequencies of some rheumatic diseases were received. It is necessary to continue the work of Register.

Female↗

PubMed1989

[Disorders of the cervical spine and the upper extremities and occupations].

A chronological review of damage to the spine and upper extremities associated with work was carried out in a sample of 120 retired disabled workers. Examination of risk factors for cervicobrachial syndrome (CBS) showed that the forced, bent position of the body at work contributed significantly to the frequency of the disease, particularly in women (70.0% against 38% in controls P less than 0.01). The lifting of heavy loads was also frequently observed in women with CBS (12% compared to 6% in the control group (P less than 0.05). Repeated movements during work were claimed by 52.9% of the males and 80% of the females with CBS and by only 41.4% of the males and 50% of the females without it (P less than 0.01). The heaviest load lifted by subjects with CBS at work exceeded significantly that of control subjects. It is considered that there is a causal link between excessive burden and the occurrence of CBS in women. For early diagnosis of CBS, tiredness, pain in the cervical spine, reduced strength in the hands and poor ability to endure manual work are signs to be looked for. Early recognition of disease, improved working conditions and recreation can help prevent the disease or slow down its progress.

Brachial Plexus Neuritis↗

PubMed1989

[Disability and arthrotic changes in the lower extremity].

From a sample of occupationally disabled persons who had retired because of a disease of the locomotive system 48 men and 22 women with pronounced arthrotic changes in lower extremities were selected for the study. A comparative group, which was matched to the experimental one by age (53.8 +/- 4.2 years) and sex, consisted of occupationally disabled persons who had rheumatic complaints, but no arthrotic changes in the lower extremities. All the subjects in the study were given a questionnaire to answer and underwent a clinical examination and an X-ray of the locomotive system. Marked symptoms of arthrosis were manifest in those aged 46 +/- 6 years. Besides occupation (coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis occurred more frequently among unskilled (54.2%) and skilled (25%) workers) a major risk factor were injuries (37.1% as against 5.7% in the comparative group). At clinical examination men complained much more often of spontaneous pain in the hip joints (60% as against 22.3% in women), whereas women more often complained of painful movements (63.6% as against 45.8% in men). The objective symptoms of gonarthrosis, crepitations and restricted movements in the first place, were present in men and women alike. The relative body mass (RBM), expressed as percentage of decline from ideal was, particularly among women, a significant risk factor for the occurrence and development of coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis. As much as 50% of the women with arthrosis had RBM higher than 140%, and another 40% had RBM between 120 and 140%. In the comparative group the respective percentage was 27.3% (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disability Evaluation↗

PubMed1988