Frequency of De Quervain's Tenosynovitis among Female Salon Workers and its Association with Activities of Daily Living: A Cross-Sectional Survey
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in Female Salon Workers
Keywords:
Activities of Daily Living, Beauty Culture, De Quervain Disease, Occupational Diseases, TenosynovitisAbstract
Background: De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQT) is a painful stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal wrist compartment that mainly affects women and people performing repetitive thumb movements. Salon work involves sustained gripping, pinching and wrist deviation, yet data on DQT among Pakistani salon workers are lacking. This study aimed to determine the frequency of DQT among female salon workers and its association with activities of daily living (ADLs).
Methods: This six-month cross-sectional survey was conducted in beauty salons and beautician training institutes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Using convenience sampling, 377 female salon workers were assessed with the Finkelstein test, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and General Activities of Daily Living (GADL) scale. Associations were tested with the chi-square test and correlation analysis.
Results: The Finkelstein test was positive in 219 workers, giving a DQT frequency of 58.1% (95% CI 53.1–63.1%). Wrist pain was unilateral in 52.0% and bilateral in 7.7%; current pain was moderate in 32.1% and severe in 6.6%. PRWE scores correlated with GADL scores (r = 0.333; p < 0.001). A positive Finkelstein test was associated with domestic ADLs (p = 0.004) but not with self-care (p = 0.165) or complex ADLs (p = 0.195).
Conclusion: More than half of female salon workers screened positive for DQT, and wrist pain and disability were linked to reduced independence, mainly in household tasks. Early screening, ergonomic modification and timely physiotherapy referral are recommended.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59564/amrj/04.04/006
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