Upper-Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorder In The 18th Century

Did you know that Upper-Extremity musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. neck and shoulder pains) have been recognised to occur in relation to work for hundreds of years? Bernardini Ramazzini, an Italian physician and father of occupational medicine, in the 18th century described it when he said:

“.. arise from three causes; first constant sitting, the perpetual motion of the hand in the same manner and thirdly, the attention and the application of the mind..”

– Bernardini Ramazzini

Source: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 1994