High risk occupation and activities associated with hand and wrist tendinitis include assembly line work, meat processing, manufacturing, knitting, typing, and piano playing. There is some evidence that workers exposed to risk factors such as high force and high repetition are at increased risk for hand and wrist tendinitis. The clinical presentation of tendon disorders is characterized by the presence of pain on the site of injury. Specific physical findings on examination include tenderness when the area over the affected tendon is touched and may be associated with swelling, redness, and restriction of movement. Treatment of tendon disorders is of a conservative nature and rarely requires surgery.
Workplace interventions are essential to promote effective treatment.
Avoiding those activities that caused or aggravated the disorder will prevent the condition from persisting or recurring. Iontophoresis is a method of delivering certain water-soluble drugs through the skin to localized tissue areas by applying a small electrical current to a solution of the drug. However, the efficacy of some of these methods has not been fully evaluated. Tendon disorders have been associated with repetitive or prolonged activities, forceful exertion, awkward and static posture, vibration, and localized mechanical stress. Job design should also aim at minimizing the need to use forceful exertion and making sure that rest and work breaks are properly used.