Table 2 Etiopathological factors in order of decreasing frequency

Professional groups

n = 58^e

n = 52^e

semi-skilled worker

21/58 (36)

12/52 (23)

training occupation

22/58 (38)

27/52 (52)

technical occupation

6/58 (10)

5/52 (10)

academic profession

9/58 (16)

8/52 (15)

Occupational group

n = 77^d

n = 65^d

manual labor

14/77 (18)

17/65 (26)

administrative work

34/77 (44)

20/65 (31)

neither manual labor nor administrative work

29/77 (38)

28/65 (43)

Occupational hierarchy according to Goldthorp

n = 58^e

n = 52^e

I

13/58 (22)

9/52 (17)

I – IV vs. V – VII

0.7 (0.3 – 1.6)

II

13/58 (22)

11/52 (21)

III

9/58 (16)

7/52 (13)

IV

6/58 (10)

4/52 (8)

V

5/58 (9)

6/52 (12)

VI

6/58 (10)

7/52 (13)

VII

6/58 (10)

8/52 (15)

Working time

n = 58^e

n = 52^e

average working hours per week, in hours (range)

34 (7–60)

38 (10–55)

Piecework

n = 58^f

n = 52^f

daily

4/58 (7)

3/52 (6)

Yes vs. never

1.6 (0.5 – 5.5)

3/4 of the time

1/58 (2)

-

1/2 of the time

1/58 (2)

3/52 (6)

1/4 of the time

2/58 (3)

1/52 (2)

never

50/58 (86)

45/52 (87)

Work with computer

n = 58^f

n = 47^f

daily

17/58 (29)

15/47 (32)

Yes vs. never

1.5 (0.6 – 3.7)

3/4 of the time

2/58 (3)

2/47 (4)

1/2 of the time

4/58 (7)

2/47 (4)

1/4 of the time

12/58 (21)

9/47 (19)

never

23/58 (40)

19/47 (40)

Twisting motions at work

n = 58^f

n = 52^f

every hour

11/58 (19)

11/52 (21)

Every hour/daily vs. 2–3× per week/

1× per week/never

1.2 (0.6 – 2.8)

daily

14/58 (24)

15/52 (29)

2–3× per week

5/58 (9)

-

1× per week

4/58 (7)

3/52 (6)

never

24/58 (41)

23/52 (44)

Powerful motions of the forearm or hand

n = 58^f

n = 47^f

every hour

14/58 (24)

8/47 (17)

Every hour/daily vs. 2–3× per week/

1× per week/never

1.0 (0.4 – 2.3)

daily

10/58 (17)

15/47 (32)

2–3× per week

4/58 (7)

2/47 (4)

1× per week

2/58 (3)

7/47 (15)

never

28/58 (48)

15/47 (32)

Pulling or pushing of loads

n = 58^f

n = 47^f

every hour

3/58 (5)

5/47 (11)

Every hour/daily vs. 2–3× per week/

1× per week/never

0.6 (0.3 – 1.5)

daily

8/58 (14)

12/47 (26)

2–3× per week

3/58 (5)

-

1× per week

11/58 (19)

2/47 (4)

never

33/58 (57)

28/47 (60)

Ergonomically stressful work

n = 58^f

n = 52^f

every hour

7/58 (12)

9/52 (17)

Every hour/daily vs. 2–3× per week/

1× per week/never

0.7 (0.3 – 1.5)

daily

10/58 (17)

15/52 (29)

2–3× per week

4/58 (7)

3/52 (6)

1× per week

6/58 (10)

6/52 (12)

never

31/58 (53)

19/52 (37)

Musical instrument

n = 77^h

n = 65^h

current

4/77 (5)

7/65 (11)

0.6 (0.1–2.3)

former & never

73/77 (95)

58/65 (89)

High impact sports ⁱ

n = 77^h

n = 65^h

current

39/77 (51)

23/65 (35)

1.8 (0.9–3.7)

former & never

38/77 (49)

42/65 (65)

Rheumatoid arthritis

suspicion of rheumatoid arthritis ^j

0/77 (0)

1/65 (2)

-

morning stiffness > 1 h

4/77 (5)

14/65 (20)

0.8 (0.1–5.1)

arthritis of 3 or more joint areas

3/77 (4)

7/65 (11)

0.4 (0.1–1.6)

symmetric arthritis

0/77 (0)

3/65 (4)

-

Trauma (<2 years before dQ)

2/77 (3)

0/65 (0)

-

Working time at computer

n = 28^h

n = 30^h

Computer use in hours per week

19 (1–40)

16 (1–54)

Keyboard

n = 28^h

n = 30^h

ergonomic

2/28 (7)

1/30 (3)

Laptop vs. PC (normal/ergonomic)

0.9 (0.2 – 6.6)

normal

23/28 (82)

25/30 (83)

Laptop

3/28 (11)

4/30 (13)

Mouse

n = 28^h

n = 30^h

normal

24/28 (86)

26/30 (87)

Touchpad vs. PC-mouse (normal/ergonomic)

0.9 (0.1 – 6.4)

ergonomic

2/28 (7)

1/30 (3)

Touchpad

2/28 (7)

3/30 (10)