TITLE: Neuromuscular and psychological characteristics in subjects with work- related forearm pain. AUTHORS: Weigert BJ; Rodriquez AA; Radwin RG; Sherman J AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA. SOURCE: Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1999 Nov-Dec;78(6):545-51 CITATION IDS: PMID: 10574170 UI: 20039327 ABSTRACT: There are scant data available on the neuromuscular and psychological characteristics of patients with cumulative trauma disorders. We compared 16 subjects with work-related forearm and hand pain in the dominant upper limb with 9 age-matched control subjects. Pain subjects were divided into two groups based on nerve conduction studies: eight subjects were in the study group for median neuropathy at the wrist (MN, median transcarpal latency >2.3 ms), and eight were in the study group for electrodiagnostically negative pain (EN). Average pain, forearm muscle tenderness, grip strength, pinch strength, and wrist flexor and extensor strength were measured. The Health Status Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to measure health perception and depressive symptoms, respectively. Work satisfaction was determined by a newly devised scale. Statistical analysis was by analysis of variance and planned comparison analysis. The MN and EN groups did not significantly differ on any of the measures except median transcarpal latency. Both pain groups had significantly (P < 0.05) greater average pain, greater extensor muscle tenderness, higher Beck Depression Inventory scores, higher pain rating, and poorer physical functioning on the Health Status Questionnaire than did the normal control group. Grip strength and wrist extension force were diminished in both cumulative trauma groups compared with control subjects; however, only grip strength in the MN group and wrist extension force in the EN group differed significantly (P < 0.05) from control subjects. Only the EN group had significantly less work satisfaction than did the control group. Overall, both pain groups differed from control subjects and shared similar characteristics, with the exception of median neuropathy. MAIN MESH HEADINGS: *Attitude to Health Forearm Injuries/*physiopathology Neuromuscular Diseases/*physiopathology Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology Pain/*physiopathology ADDITIONAL MESH HEADINGS: Adult Case-Control Studies Comparative Study Cumulative Trauma Disorders/physiopathology Cumulative Trauma Disorders/psychology Depression/psychology Female Forearm Injuries/psychology Hand Injuries/physiopathology Hand Injuries/psychology Hand Strength/physiology Health Status Human Job Satisfaction Male Median Neuropathy/physiopathology Median Neuropathy/psychology Middle Age Muscle Contraction/physiology Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology Neural Conduction/physiology Neuromuscular Diseases/psychology Occupational Diseases/psychology Pain/psychology Reaction Time Wrist Joint/physiopathology PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE LANGUAGES: Eng