Work-related disorders of the upper limb

Common conditions of the upper limb such as carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis, de Quervain's disease, Dupuytren's disease, ganglia and carpometacarpal arthritis in the thumb have been attributed to manual activities which require force, repetition or the use of an awkward posture, alone or in combination.Orthopaedic articles and textbooks which describe these conditions often contain statements that they are more common in manual workers, or that they may be caused by work or 'overuse'.What is the evidence that such statements are true?de Quervain's disease was called 'washerwoman's strain' because there was discomfort when wringing out clothes or turning a mangle.When the condition occurred in the post-partum period, as frequently happens, it was attributed to wringing out nappies.