Abstract
The size of the problem area, occupational neck and upper limb disorders (NLD) depends on the definitions and measures used. The review presents problems encountered in the epidemiological research of the NLD. Symptoms and disorders of the neck and upper limbs can be divided into five categories: 1) temporary fatigue, 2) chronic pain, 3) primary fibromyalgia, 4) general diseases with musculo-skeletal symptoms, and 5) psychogenic manifestations . This basic classification would serve for further development of epidemiologic methodology . A review of the NLD cases in Finland shows that the neck syndromes are more common than upper limb disorders, that women are overrepresented among the cases with neck syndromes, and that the symptoms are modified by intervening variables .
