Snowmobile driving and symptoms of the locomotive organs.

The role of snowmobile driving as a factor in symptoms of the locomotive organs was examined in 1,793 reindeer herding men using a postal questionnaire. Thirty-eight % of the respondents reported troubles in the upper limbs and shoulders which according to their own judgement were caused by snowmobile driving, and 34% reported such symptoms in the knees and 42% in the back. Aching, pain or tenderness upon movement in at least one joint during the current year, inquired by independent questions, were reported by 46% of the men. The prevalence of joint symptoms felt in the elbow (reported by 15% of the subjects), wrist (13%), fingers (10%), shoulder (22%) and knees (20%) increased by a factor of 1.6-2.5 from those driving a snowmobile 1-20 days a year to those driving 150 days or more. The findings confirm earlier reports of increased occurrence of symptoms in the locomotive organs in snowmobile drivers and justify technical and other preventive measures.