Manufacturing Workers Have a Higher Incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

It is unclear whether clerical or labor-type work is more associated with risk for developing work-related carpal tunnel syndrome (WrCTS).

METHODS

National employment, demographic, and injury data were examined from the Bureau of Labor Statistics databases for the years 2003 to 2018. Injuries for clerical and labor industries were compared using linear regression, two-group t test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis.

RESULTS

WrCTS injuries are decreasing over time (B = -1002.62, P < 0.001). The labor industry demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of WrCTS when compared with the clerical industries (P < 0.001). Within labor industries, the manufacturing industry had the highest incidence of WrCTS over time (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed WrCTS injuries have declined over time. Additionally, our findings may suggest that the labor industry has a stronger association with WrCTS than the clerical industry.