Experts Decry CDC, Arthritis Foundation

May was National Arthritis Month, but the presentation of the issue by the CDC and the National Arthritis Foundation brought some thoughtful criticism from some ergonomics professionals associated with union workers.

In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC called attention to National Arthritis Month in May, writing, “This year, the Arthritis Foundation is urging persons with arthritis to get active for better health. Regular moderate physical activity improves health and function of joints and reduces the risk of other chronic conditions…Walking is an ideal activity for most persons with arthritis because it is low impact, can be incorporated into usual daily activity, and does not require special equipment or facilities…CDC, along with 36 state arthritis programs, the Arthritis Foundation and other organizations, continue to implement the National Arthritis Action Plan…”

Frank Mirer, Director of Health and Safety at the United Auto Workers (UAW), asked on Duke University’s Occupational and Environmental Medicine for Clinicians and Public Health Professionals Med List, “Why no mention of ergonomics and cumulative trauma disorders in the header material from CDC?”

Mirer, who examined the National Arthritis Action Plan, noted that, though it mentions occupational injury as a cause of arthritis, it suggests no action to prevent or manage workplace-induced arthritic pain. He characterized the CDC’s action plan on arthritis is a “blame the victim, exhortation approach” to public health.

“Before they dog people who are pounding steel ten hours on the assembly line for not training for marathons afterwards,” wrote Mirer, “they should figure out how many METS (metabolic equivalents) are expended at work and whether that meets the walking quota” promoted by CDC and the Arthritis Foundation (iInformation about the number of calories expended in common work activities is available here.

In a subsequent telephone conversation, Mirer stood by his written remarks, saying that the problem is the failure of many health professionals to appreciate how workplace factors can be the source of pain experienced, and the behaviors exhibited, by employees outside work. He cites the example of smoking. “Working in pain is probably a risk factor for smoking as well as inappropriate eating.”

Laura S. Welch, MD, of the Center to Protect Workers Rights, responded to Mirer’s comment, writing on the Med List, “A new report from Rand finds that 50% of disability among men in the US, and about 1/3 overall, is due to occupational factors ...This research certainly supports Frank’s point that work plays an important role in development of chronic conditions, and improvement of the factors at work that are contributory can have a major benefit.”