A study of the effects of isokinetic pre-employment physical capability screening in the reduction of musculoskeletal disorders in a labor intensive work environment.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the effects of pre-employment physical ability screening using isokinetic dynamometry in injury development, specific to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the knees, shoulders and back among workers in physically demanding jobs. METHODS New hires (n=503) from a large US employer's 105 industrial yards were screened to match the physical demands of their prospective jobs and tracked for up to 33 months. Results were compared to a control group of 1423 workers. RESULTS There were significant reductions in the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal disorder injuries in the screened employee population. Non-screened applicants were 2.38 times more likely to experience a MSD-related overexertion injury specific to the knees, shoulders and back than screened hires (OR=2.3759; p=0.0001), and incurred 4.33 times higher cost of claims (p=0.0003). Covariates of age, pay type, race and job classification were markedly different between screened and unscreened hires. Among the screened cohort, only the more physically demanding job classifications were significant with field material handlers 7.1 times more likely to experience a non-MSD than less physically demanding workers (OR=7.1036; p=0.0063). CONCLUSIONS Objective isokinetic pre-employment screening may significantly reduce injuries in physically demanding jobs. Employees having been effectively matched to the physical demands of their jobs may be at significantly lesser risk of injury and disability from both musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal disorders.