An investigation to compare the evidence of pain and other signs of degenerative change of the first metacarpophalangeal joint within the osteopathic community
Item
- Title
- An investigation to compare the evidence of pain and other signs of degenerative change of the first metacarpophalangeal joint within the osteopathic community
- Author(s)
- Read Katharine
- Abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate whether the practice of osteopathy predisposed those who work in the profession to pain, and other symptoms of degeneration at the first metacarpophalangeal joint. The main research objective was to raise the profile of this and other health problems facing those in the osteopathic community.The method involved sending questionnaires to 400 osteopaths, divided into four groups and subject to the same inclusion criteria, limiting for age, familial history of arthritis and traumatic injury to the base of the thumb.The results found a significant correlation between the incidence of pain at the 1st M.C.P. joint and the number of years in practice. The same correlation was seen for the relationship of pain and the number of patients seen per week. The study concluded that pain at the 1st M.C.P. joint increases in incidence with the length of time spent within osteopathic practice, and is further aggravated by the treatment of large numbers of patients. These findings were not altered by the sex or handedness of the practitioner.This is clinically relevant because osteopaths are generally self-employed practitioners whose livelihood is at risk if they have to take time off for an injury that is primarily aggravated by their occupation. This study has hopefully highlighted the absence of research in this area of personal welfare, and lays the foundation for further research into occupational pain and disability which may have a marked effect on the profession in future years.
- Abstract
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2000
- Date Submitted
- 31.7.2000 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 12197
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint,Pain,Osteopathic Practice,Occupational Health,Joint Pain,Joint Disorders
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Read Katharine, “An investigation to compare the evidence of pain and other signs of degenerative change of the first metacarpophalangeal joint within the osteopathic community”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 29, 2024, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/2263