Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the number one Occupational
Illness, termed the "Technological Disease of the 90's"
as it has reached epidemic proportions. In 1995 over 5 million
Americans suffered from CTS up from 1.89 million in 1993.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome if the #1 reported medical problem
accounting for about 50% of all work-related injuries.
As of 1997, 25% of all computer operators had CTS with
estimates that by the year 2000, 50% of the entire workforce
may be affected.
Only about 23% of CTS patients were able to return to their
previous profession following surgery.
Up to 36% of all CTS patients require unlimited medical
treatment.
Some form of repetitive stress disorder - mostly carpal
tunnel syndrome - is now showing up in fully 15% of the
U.S. workforce and that number is growing. Anyone who does
work involving highly repetitive manual acts and stressful
wrist postures, where frequent rest is not possible, is
susceptible. Over the past ten years automation and job
specialization have fragmented workers' tasks so that few
manipulations are performed thousands of times per workday
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome has become one of the most serious
threats to employee health.
The exponential rise of computer usage in offices, homes
and schools has thrown a brighter light on a problem that
has been with us since the first days of the assembly line.
Studies have found high rates of the disorder among factory
workers, food service workers, carpenters and typists/data
entry personnel.
As of 1994 there were 75,000,000 computer users in the
U.S. workforce, 50,000,000 of which are women.
A report by NIOSH revealed that more than 50% of all food
cashiers (jobs predominantly held by women), suffered to
some degree from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other forms
of Repetitive Stress injuries as a result of the physical
demands of scanning products at high speed.
Nearly 25% of 355,000 members of the Union of Needle and
Industrial Employees suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
and other forms of Repetitive Stress injuries. Women make
up 75% of their membership.
In 1992, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that
while women accounted for about 45% of all workers, they
experienced nearly two-thirds of all work-related Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome and other forms of Repetitive Stress injuries.
Women are twice as likely to develop CTS a opposed to their
male counterpart. While women account for about 45% of all
workers they experience nearly two thirds of all work-related
repetitive stress injuries.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome results in the highest median number
of days of work lost (30 days) among all major work-related
injury or illness categories. Almost half of CTS cases (47.5
percent) result in 31 days or more of work loss.
Along with increasing numbers of CTS, costs are escalating
too, quadrupling since 1987. The average cost of a single
case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, for example, rose to $30,000
in 1988 per the Bureau of National Affairs
In the United States, employers spend more than 7.4 Billion
in Workers Compensation costs, and untold billions on medical
treatment, litigation costs, and lost productivity. (U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Musculoskeletal disorders are the country's most costly
category of workplace injuries and illnesses, In addition
to spending $20 billion annually on Workers Compensation
costs due to Repetitive Stress Injuries (RTS's), the U.S.
spends another $100 billion on lost productivity, employee
turnover and other indirect expenses. ( Agency for Health
Care Policy and Research)
Ergonomic disorders are the fastest growing category of
work-related illness. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, they account for 56% of illnesses reported to
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Repetitive Strain Injury has become the number one work
related health problem.
CTS results in the highest median number of days of work
lost (30) DAYS among all major work related injuries or
illness categories. Almost half of the CTS cases (47.5%)
result in 31 days or more of work lost.
