Work-related MSK disorders

Question 1

What is tendinitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of a tendon

Question 2

What is capsulitis?

Answer 2

Inflammation of a joint capsule

Question 3

What is spondylosis?

Answer 3

Degeneration of vertebral disc between the vertebrae

Question 4

What is epicondylitis?

Answer 4

Inflammation of the tendons surrounding an epicondyle (i.e. on humerus)

Question 5

What is tenosynovitis?

Answer 5

Inflammation of the fluid filled sheath that surrounds a tendon

Question 6

What is thoracic outlet syndrome?

Answer 6

Compression at the superior thoracic outlet

This is the area where the subclavian artery and vein and a nerve bundle leave under the clavicle

The syndrome occurs when there is excess pressure on the nerve bundle causing pain

Question 7

Clinical features of thoracic outlet syndrome?

Answer 7

Sensory: pain + tingling

Wasting of hand muscles

Question 8

What causes thoracic outlet syndrome?

Answer 8

Affects people who work with their hands above their heads a lot

Question 9

What is rotator cuff tendinitis?

Answer 9

Inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles

Question 10

Name the rotator cuff muscles?

Answer 10

Supraspinatus
Subscapularis
Infraspinatus
Teres minor

Question 11

What is another name for medial epicondylitis?

Answer 11

Golfer’s elbow

Question 12

What is another name for lateral epicondylitis?

Answer 12

Tennis elbow

Question 13

Which causes pain against resisted flexion of the wrist?

Golfer’s or Tennis elbow?

Answer 13

Golfer’s

Question 14

Which causes pain against resisted extension of the wrist?

Golfer’s or Tennis elbow?

Answer 14

Tennis

Question 15

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Answer 15

Tightening of the transverse carpal ligament that compresses the median nerve

Question 16

Where is the transverse carpal ligament?

Answer 16

A band across your superior wrist

Question 17

What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Answer 17

Occupations with repetitive or forceful wrist movements

Adverse wrist postures

Question 18

What are the risk factors of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Answer 18

Pregnancy
Obesity
Endocrine disease
Combined OCP
HRT

Question 19

What is the basic difference between mechanical and neurological back pain?

Answer 19

Mechanical: simple back pain, source of pain could be spinal joints, discs

Neurological: nerve root pain

Question 20

Where is mechanical back pain usually felt? Is anything else felt?

Answer 20

Lumbrosacral region
Buttocks
Thighs

Not usually any other sensations

Question 21

Where is neurological back pain usually felt? Is anything else felt?

Answer 21

Lower back radiating down leg to foot or toes

Paraesthesia
Numbness in same distribution

Question 22

What are the red flag signs you should look for when examining someone with back pain?

Answer 22

Loss of feeling
Incontinence
Paralysis
Fever
Weight loss
Young person

Question 23

What are likely causes of back pain in people aged 15-30?

Answer 23

Prolapsed disc
Trauma
Fracture
Ankylosing Spondylitis

Question 24

What are likely causes of back pain in people aged 30-50?

Answer 24

Degenerative spinal disease
Prolapsed disc
Malignancy, primary or secondary

Question 25

What are likely causes of back pain in people aged over 50?

Answer 25

Degenerative spinal disease
Osteoporotic vertebral disc collapse
Malignancy
Myeloma