Frequency-Range-Specific Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure and the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities: The German Hand–Arm Vibration Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Design and Study Population
- Hand OA;
- Elbow OA;
- Shoulder OA;
- Kienböck’s disease;
- Scaphoid fracture and scaphoid pseudoarthrosis;
- Elbow Osteochondrosis.
2.2. Equipment–Exposure Database for Quantifying Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure
2.3. Exposure Assessment Methods
2.4. Determining Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure Values
- ahv(8) = daily vibration exposure in three measuring directions;
- ahw(8) = daily vibration exposure in the direction along the forearm;
- T0 = reference duration of 8 h (conventional daily working time);
- Ti = daily working hours of using power tool i;
- ahvi = acceleration in three measuring directions of the power tool i;
- ahwi = acceleration in the direction along the forearm of the power tool i;
- n = total number of power tools used in a day.
- Dhv = cumulative vibration doses in three measuring directions;
- Dhw = cumulative vibration doses in the direction along the forearm;
- ahvi(8) = daily vibration exposure of three measuring directions at day i;
- ahwi(8) = daily vibration exposure in the direction along the forearm at day i;
- di = number of working days with a daily exposure of ahvi(8) (ahwi(8));
- di was quantified as follows: work days/week ∗ work weeks/year ∗ total years of work.
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Parameters | Cases | Controls | |
---|---|---|---|
N | 209 | 614 | |
Age (years) | Mean (SD) | 53 (9) | 52 (9) |
Median (range) | 53 (22–84) | 52 (22–83) | |
BMI | ≤25 | 17.2% | 22.0% |
25–30 | 50.7% | 51.0% | |
>30 | 32.1% | 27.0% | |
Comorbidity | Gout * | 14.4% | 9.0% |
Pseudogout | 0.5% | 0.5% | |
Finger/hand injury † | 39.7% | 25.7% | |
Elbow injury ** | 11.5% | 5.9% | |
Shoulder injury * | 13.9% | 8.5% | |
Arm fracture | 10.1% | 7.2% | |
Inflammatory disorder of | |||
Hand † | 26.3% | 5.7% | |
Elbow † | 23.9% | 5.5% | |
Shoulder † | 17.2% | 8.8% | |
Osteoporosis | 2.4% | 1.6% | |
Knee osteoarthritis † | 28.7% | 15.0% | |
Hip osteoarthritis † | 10.1% | 3.6% | |
Spinal osteoarthritis † | 19.1% | 8.6% | |
Generalized osteoarthritis † | 23.0% | 4.1% | |
Rheumatism | 6.2% | 4.4% |
Cumulative Vibration Doses | Cases | Controls |
---|---|---|
N | 206 | 609 |
Dhv-values (m2/s4·year) * | ||
Frequency 4–20 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 540.0 (647.9) | 332.2 (620.3) |
Median (range) | 289.6 (0.2–2928.6) | 106.0 (0–6717.2) |
Frequency 4–31.5 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 726.1 (852.1) | 448.1 (790.1) |
Median (range) | 386.9 (0.3–4123.2) | 154.5 (0–7101.9) |
Frequency 4–50 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 1316.2 (1442.0) | 842.8 (1410.4) |
Median (range) | 783.2 (2.8–8153.5) | 347.0 (0–13,374.2) |
Frequency 4–80 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 1426.8 (1527.8) | 921.8 (1488.6) |
Median (range) | 908.5 (3.2–8755.9) | 417.6 (0–14,109.7) |
Frequency 4–100 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 1482.1 (1563.3) | 963.3 (1527.0) |
Median (range) | 950.6 (3.6–9014.2) | 406.3 (0.1–14,471.1) |
All frequency (4–1250 Hz) | ||
Mean (SD) | 1629.1 (1652.5) | 1089.4 (1655.1) |
Median (range) | 1113.3 (4.4–9614.5) | 556.7 (0.1–15,339.3) |
Dhw-values (m2/s4·year) ** | ||
Frequency 4–20 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 80.3 (177.3) | 46.0 (190.0) |
Median (range) | 38.6 (0.1–1731.8) | 13.5 (0–3394.7) |
Frequency 4–31.5 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 114.5 (229.5) | 64.3 (218.7) |
Median (range) | 61.6 (0.1–2022.6) | 21.2 (0–3756.5) |
Frequency 4–50 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 377.1 (380.8) | 228.3 (378.2) |
Median (range) | 288.9 (1.3–2262.6) | 99.4 (0–4555.1) |
Frequency 4–80 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 409.9 (402.2) | 253.2 (400.8) |
Median (range) | 313.2 (1.4–2443.8) | 120.3 (0–4806.1) |
Frequency 4–100 Hz | ||
Mean (SD) | 432.0 (414.0) | 266.4 (411.8) |
Median (range) | 330.5 (1.5–2529.1) | 133.2 (0–4830.0) |
All frequency (4–1250 Hz) | ||
Mean (SD) | 480.7 (457.3) | 315.2 (530.5) |
Median (range) | 377.1 (1.8–3259.1) | 169.1 (0–7742.0) |
Dhv * (m2/s4·year) | n | Adjusted ** | Adjusted † | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OR | 95%KI | OR | 95%KI | ||
Frequency 4–20 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 26/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 34/163 | 1.41 | 0.81–2.46 | 1.22 | 0.66–2.24 |
3. Quintile | 39/163 | 1.98 | 1.13–3.45 | 1.57 | 0.80–3.10 |
4. Quintile | 36/163 | 2.84 | 1.57–5.15 | 2.00 | 0.87–4.63 |
5. Quintile | 71/163 | 5.57 | 3.13–9.93 | 3.32 | 1.16–9.46 |
Frequency 4–31.5 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 27/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 30/163 | 1.41 | 0.80–2.48 | 1.23 | 0.66–2.31 |
3. Quintile | 43/163 | 2.17 | 1.25–3.75 | 1.75 | 0.88–3.49 |
4. Quintile | 35/163 | 2.93 | 1.60–5.36 | 2.12 | 0.88–5.09 |
5. Quintile | 71/163 | 5.69 | 3.18–10.17 | 3.55 | 1.19–10.55 |
Frequency 4–50 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 20/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 36/163 | 2.16 | 1.18–3.93 | 2.31 | 1.16–4.63 |
3. Quintile | 41/163 | 2.53 | 1.37–4.67 | 2.89 | 1.18–7.10 |
4. Quintile | 42/163 | 4.74 | 2.52–8.91 | 5.78 | 1.80–18.54 |
5. Quintile | 67/163 | 7.05 | 3.73–13.33 | 9.27 | 2.08–41.40 |
Frequency 4–80 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 19/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 36/163 | 2.34 | 1.27–4.30 | 2.64 | 1.28–5.44 |
3. Quintile | 43/163 | 2.71 | 1.47–4.99 | 3.51 | 1.27–9.69 |
4. Quintile | 41/163 | 4.34 | 2.29–8.25 | 6.41 | 1.63–25.31 |
5. Quintile | 67/163 | 7.21 | 3.82–13.62 | 12.29 | 2.07–73.05 |
Frequency 4–100 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 20/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 37/163 | 2.11 | 1.17–3.84 | 2.18 | 1.05–4.56 |
3. Quintile | 39/163 | 2.25 | 1.23–4.13 | 2.41 | 0.82–7.08 |
4. Quintile | 42/163 | 3.77 | 2.06–6.93 | 4.16 | 0.96–18.02 |
5. Quintile | 68/163 | 6.16 | 3.34–11.36 | 7.04 | 1.04–47.80 |
All frequency 4–1250 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 20/163 | 1 | – | ||
2. Quintile | 35/163 | 2.10 | 1.13–3.88 | ||
3. Quintile | 43/163 | 2.53 | 1.38–4.67 | ||
4. Quintile | 40/163 | 3.32 | 1.79–6.15 | ||
5. Quintile | 68/163 | 5.81 | 3.14–10.75 |
Dhw * (m2/s4·year) | n | Adjusted ** | Adjusted † | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OR | 95%KI | OR | 95%KI | ||
Frequency 4–20 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 18/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 22/163 | 1.32 | 0.67–2.59 | 1.24 | 0.62–2.48 |
3. Quintile | 26/163 | 1.95 | 0.99–3.85 | 1.71 | 0.81–3.61 |
4. Quintile | 65/163 | 4.59 | 2.49–8.46 | 3.86 | 1.85–8.03 |
5. Quintile | 75/163 | 4.78 | 2.60–8.76 | 3.86 | 1.76–8.44 |
Frequency 4–31.5 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 12/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 27/163 | 2.82 | 1.35–5.92 | 2.71 | 1.27–5.76 |
3. Quintile | 28/163 | 3.33 | 1.54–7.19 | 3.02 | 1.30–7.04 |
4. Quintile | 67/163 | 8.20 | 4.02–16.72 | 7.31 | 3.21–16.64 |
5. Quintile | 72/163 | 7.67 | 3.77–15.62 | 6.60 | 2.71–16.07 |
Frequency 4–50 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 20/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 19/163 | 0.99 | 0.50–1.95 | 1.03 | 0.50–2.12 |
3. Quintile | 47/163 | 2.72 | 1.48–4.99 | 2.97 | 1.33–6.62 |
4. Quintile | 50/163 | 3.09 | 1.67–5.73 | 3.54 | 1.30–9.67 |
5. Quintile | 70/163 | 4.50 | 2.48–8.19 | 5.38 | 1.60–18.09 |
Frequency 4–80 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 18/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 24/163 | 1.56 | 0.82–2.99 | 1.62 | 0.80–3.28 |
3. Quintile | 42/163 | 2.73 | 1.48–5.02 | 2.93 | 1.22–7.04 |
4. Quintile | 55/163 | 3.75 | 2.05–6.85 | 4.20 | 1.33–13.23 |
5. Quintile | 67/163 | 4.70 | 2.59–8.52 | 5.46 | 1.32–22.58 |
Frequency 4–100 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 16/163 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
2. Quintile | 26/163 | 1.63 | 0.85–3.13 | 1.78 | 0.86–3.67 |
3. Quintile | 41/163 | 2.73 | 1.45–5.13 | 3.32 | 1.28–8.60 |
4. Quintile | 55/163 | 4.02 | 2.16–7.49 | 5.41 | 1.56–18.76 |
5. Quintile | 68/163 | 4.71 | 2.56–8.65 | 6.96 | 1.48–32.68 |
All frequency 4–1250 Hz | |||||
1. Quintile | 16/163 | 1 | – | ||
2. Quintile | 26/163 | 1.68 | 0.87–3.25 | ||
3. Quintile | 43/163 | 3.13 | 1.66–5.89 | ||
4. Quintile | 57/163 | 3.89 | 2.09–7.25 | ||
5. Quintile | 64/163 | 4.48 | 2.42–8.30 |
Cumulative Vibration Dose at Alle Frequencies (4–1250 Hz) | OR * | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional Adjustment for Frequency-Range-Specific Vibration Dose | |||||||
Frequency Spectrum (Hz) | |||||||
0 | 4–20 | 4–31.5 | 4–50 | 4–80 | 4–100 | ||
Dhv (m2/s4·year) ** | |||||||
1. Quintile | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
2. Quintile | 2.10 | 1.67 | 1.66 | 1.36 | 1.24 | 1.37 | |
3. Quintile | 2.53 | 1.68 | 1.58 | 1.07 | 0.90 | 1.10 | |
4. Quintile | 3.32 | 1.76 | 1.65 | 0.93 | 0.73 | 0.98 | |
5. Quintile | 5.81 | 2.41 | 2.19 | 0.98 | 0.72 | 1.11 | |
Trend-Test | p < 0.0001 | p = 0.167 | p = 0.258 | p = 0.719 | p = 0.867 | p = 0.874 | |
Dhw (m2/s4·year) † | |||||||
1. Quintile | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
2. Quintile | 1.68 | 1.25 | 1.21 | 1.16 | 1.17 | 1.10 | |
3. Quintile | 3.13 | 1.62 | 1.51 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.33 | |
4. Quintile | 3.89 | 1.69 | 1.51 | 1.24 | 1.27 | 1.08 | |
5. Quintile | 4.48 | 1.57 | 1.37 | 0.98 | 1.00 | 0.81 | |
Trend-Test | p < 0.0001 | p = 0.366 | p = 0.633 | p = 0.757 | p = 0.818 | p = 0.623 |
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Sun, Y.; Bochmann, F.; Eckert, W.; Nigmann, U.; van den Berg, C.; Kaulbars, U.; Raffler, N. Frequency-Range-Specific Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure and the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities: The German Hand–Arm Vibration Study. Vibration 2025, 8, 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8010006
Sun Y, Bochmann F, Eckert W, Nigmann U, van den Berg C, Kaulbars U, Raffler N. Frequency-Range-Specific Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure and the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities: The German Hand–Arm Vibration Study. Vibration. 2025; 8(1):6. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8010006
Chicago/Turabian StyleSun, Yi, Frank Bochmann, Winfried Eckert, Uwe Nigmann, Christian van den Berg, Uwe Kaulbars, and Nastaran Raffler. 2025. "Frequency-Range-Specific Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure and the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities: The German Hand–Arm Vibration Study" Vibration 8, no. 1: 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8010006
APA StyleSun, Y., Bochmann, F., Eckert, W., Nigmann, U., van den Berg, C., Kaulbars, U., & Raffler, N. (2025). Frequency-Range-Specific Hand–Arm Vibration Exposure and the Risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities: The German Hand–Arm Vibration Study. Vibration, 8(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/vibration8010006