Worker Health Chartbook 2004

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is an inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the thick fibrous cord that attaches muscle tissue to bone. Tendonitis cases are more severe than the average nonfatal injury or illness case (Figure 2–65). In 2001, these cases involved a median of 10 days away from work compared with 6 days for all nonfatal injury and illness cases [BLS 2003a].

BLS reported 14,124 tendonitis cases involving days away from work in 2001 (Figure 2–60). Rates declined 51.5% during 1992–2001, from 3.3 per 10,000 full-time workers in 1992 to 1.6 in 2001 (Figure 2–61). Most cases involved workers who were aged 25–54 (82.1%) (Figure 2–62), female (Figure 2–63), and white, non-Hispanic (71.3%) (Figure 2–64). Two occupational groups accounted for more than 67% of all tendonitis cases in 2001: operators, fabricators, and laborers (47.1% or 6,627 cases) and technical, sales, and administrative support workers (20.8% or 2,925 cases) (Figure 2–66). Incidence rates exceeding the private-sector rate were reported for manufacturing (3.2 per 10,000 full-time workers), construction (2.0), and transportation and public utilities (1.7) (Figure 2–67). Manufacturing had consistently higher rates than other industry sectors during 1992–2001 and experienced a 59% rate reduction (Figure 2–68).

Magnitude and Trend

How did the number of tendonitis cases change during 1992–2001?

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Figure 2–60 Number of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry, 1992–2001. The annual number of tendonitis cases involving days away from work declined 44.3% during this period, from 25,353 cases in 1992 to 14,124 cases in 2001. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b].)

How did the annual rate of tendonitis cases change during 1992–2001?

Figure 2–61 Annual rate of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry, 1992–2001. The annual rate of private-sector tendonitis cases involving days away from work declined 51.5% during this period—from 3.3 per 10,000 full-time workers in 1992 to 1.6 in 2001. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b].)

Age

How did the number of tendonitis cases differ by age of worker in 2001?

Figure 2–62 Distribution and number of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry by age, 2001. Age data are available for 13,990 of the 14,124 BLS-estimated tendonitis cases involving days away from work in 2001. Workers aged 35–44 accounted for 4,686 or 33.5% of cases. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b]; Booth-Jones et al. [2003c].)

Sex

How did the distribution of tendonitis cases differ by sex of worker?

Figure 2–63 Distribution of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry by sex, 1992–2001. Female workers accounted for the majority of tendonitis cases during 1992–2001. Over the decade, women represented 54.8% to 62.3% of the cases. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b]; Booth-Jones et al. [2003c].)

Race/Ethnicity

How did tendonitis cases differ by race/ethnicity in 2001?

Figure 2–64 Distribution and number of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry by race/ethnicity, 2001. Race/ethnicity data are available for 10,268 of the 14,124 BLS-estimated tendonitis cases involving days away from work in 2001. White, non-Hispanic workers accounted for the majority of cases (71.3% or 7,325 cases) in 2001. Hispanic workers accounted for 13.6% or 1,400 cases of tendonitis, and black, non-Hispanic workers accounted for 12.7% or 1,302 cases. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b]; Booth-Jones et al. [2003c].)

Severity

How did tendonitis cases compare with all nonfatal injury and illness cases when measured by days away from work in 2001?

Figure 2–65 Distribution of tendonitis cases and all nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in private industry by days away from work, 2001. Tendonitis cases in 2001 tended to involve higher percentages of long-term work loss (6–10, 11–20, 21–30, and 31 or more days away from work). For example, 29.7% of tendonitis cases involved 31 or more days away from work compared with only 22.0% of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses. Tendonitis cases required a median of 10 days away from work in 2001, whereas all nonfatal injuries and illnesses required 6. (Sources: BLS [2003a,b]; Booth-Jones et al. [2003c].)

Occupation

How did tendonitis cases differ by occupation in 2001?

Figure 2–66 Distribution and number of tendonitis cases involving days away from work in private industry by occupation, 2001. Operators, fabricators, and laborers represented 47.1% of tendonitis cases in 2001. Two other occupations accounted for nearly 39% of the cases: technical, sales, and administrative support (20.8%); and precision production, craft, and repair (18.0%). (Sources: BLS [2003a,b]; Booth-Jones et al. [2003c].)

Industry

How did the rate of tendonitis cases differ by private industry sector in 2001?

Figure 2–67 Incidence rate of tendonitis cases involving days away from work by private industry sector, 2001. Private industry reported a tendonitis incidence rate of 1.6 per 10,000 full-time workers in 2001. Three sectors reported rates exceeding the private-sector rate: manufacturing (3.2 per 10,000 full-time workers or 5,567 cases), construction (2.0 per 10,000 full-time workers or 1,230 cases), and transportation and public utilities (1.7 per 10,000 full-time workers or 1,128 cases). (Source: BLS [2003a].)

How did the rates of tendonitis change by private industry sector during 1992–2001?

Figure 2–68 Annual rates of tendonitis cases involving days away from work by private industry sector, 1992–2001. The annual rate of tendonitis cases declined 51.5% in the private sector during 1992–2001. Rates declined among most industry sectors except for mining and transportation and public utilities. Manufacturing had consistently higher rates of tendonitis than other industry sectors and experienced a 59% rate reduction during this 10-year period. (Source: BLS [2003a].)