| Summary: | Introduction: Garment work is repetitive and detailed and requires constant use of the hands. It is
no surprise that garment workers are at high risk for developing repetitive strain injuries (RSI’s)
(MFL Occupational Health Centre, 1999). Work-related upper limb disorders, popularly known
as RSI’s, affect over 370,000 people in Great Britain with 86,000 new cases recorded in 2010.
This costs employers almost £300 million in lost working time, sick pay and administration (The
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, 2007). There is however no statistics documented on RSI’s
among garment workers found for South Africa. Aim: To determine the prevalence of signs and
symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervains tenosynovitis. Method: A study using
quantitative data was used. A validated questionnaire consisting of open-ended and closed
questions was utilized. Data was collected from two hundred subjects of varying age, gender and
ethnic group. Information on signs and symptoms and possible risk factors of RSI’s were
obtained. The visual analogue scale was used to assess pain, a goniometer to measure active
range of movement, the Phalens test, Reverse Phalens test and Finkelsteins test was used to
assess the signs and symptoms of the two occupational repetitive strain disorders. Data analysis:
All data was captured and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS
version 15). Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, proportions, median, mode
and interquartile range was used to summarize the data. Pearson’s Chi Square tests and Fishers
Exact tests were used to test for association between two categorical variables. Independent
Samples t-tests were used for the difference in age distribution between participants that
presented with carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervains tenosynovitis and of those who did not
present with them. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Bar graphs, tables and pie charts
were used to depict the results. Results/Discussion: The results of this study indicated that 59%
of participants presented with signs and symptoms of de Quervains tenosynovitis and 63% of
participants presented with signs and symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The prevalence of
carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervains tenosynovitis was 42% and 43% respectively among
garment workers in the eThekwini district. In addition, 100% of participants stated that they
work under the following conditions, applying weight through the arms, repeated movement,
work with their arms in unsupported positions, fast hand movements and holding or grasping for
more than 2 hours continuously per day. Seventy two and a half percent of participants stated
that their work entailed using vibratory tools for prolonged hours. Pearson’s Chi Square tests
showed no association of use of vibratory tools to de Quervains tenosynovitis (P=0.666) or to
carpal tunnel syndrome. This is inconsistent with the findings of the study completed by Leclerc
et al. (1998) who stated that different dimensions of exposure to physical workload are widely
recognised as risk factors. These risk factors include rapid hand motions, repetitive bending and
twisting of the hands and the wrist, fast work pace, repetitive grasping with the fingers,
mechanical stress at the base of the palm and the palm and the use of vibratory tools (Leclerc et
al. 1998). Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence of signs and symptoms of carpal
tunnel syndrome and de Quervains tenosynovitis among garment workers. It has also shown that
a significant percentage of garment workers presented with symptoms of burning, tingling,
itching and numbness in their hands as well as feelings of swollen and ‘useless’ hands. A
significant number presented with functional limitations to certain activities of daily living
suggestive of the presence of carpal tunnel syndrome. De Quervains tenosynovitis was indicated
when a significant number of participants presented with pain, tenderness or swelling over the
radial aspect of the wrist as well as functional limitations to certain activities of daily living. === Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2012.
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