Elbow Musculoskeletal Disorders (Epicondylitis): Evidence for Work-Relatedness

Over 20 epidemiologic studies have examined physical workplace factors and their relationship to epicondylitis. The majority of studies involved study populations exposed to some combination of work factors, but among these studies were also those that assessed specific work factors. Each of the studies examined (those with negative, positive, or equivocal findings) contributed to the overall pool of data to make our decision on the strength of work-relatedness. Using epidemiologic criteria to examine these studies, and taking into account issues of confounding, bias, and strengths and limitations of the studies, we conclude the following: