Manual Athletes

Introduction
Cumulative trauma disorders (CTA) are a group of diseases that share a physical demand required for the execution of an activity that exceeds the capacity Biomechanics of structures used, leading to the emergence of a lesion of the skeletal muscle apparatus as etiology. The musculoskeletal diseases by CTA are today a major cause of disability, absenteeism and diseases such as carpal tunnel among others. In some pharmaceutical companies the work process can be much handcrafted. Each job has high demand for manual labor, including chemical and psychosocial risk factors; workers are highly qualified (degree) and the induction into work process lasts six months. We were at the gray landscape of 30% of workers in a mixing center with muscle fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, myositis and tendonitis; the redeployment was impossible as all work areas presented high manual demands.

Methods
In the fact of the impossibility to reduce ergonomic factors and personnel rotation, we took on the task of making a program to strengthen the hands called “ Manual Athletes”. Daily training of a high-performance athlete consists of warming up, stretching and cooling and we apply it to the workers who performed exercise before, during and after working hours; talks and strengthening exercises were held and their exercise routines increased.

Results
A few weeks into the program, the disabilities decreased by 95%, the productivity and working environment improved, and the elasticity of all partners increased.

Discussion
In many cases is no feasible to change the work process, but can be given the necessary tools to preserve and maintain the health of valuable human capital. We had a significant decrease in absenteeism and disability. In pre-employment examination the applicants with previous hand injury or aftermath of fractures were unsuitable for the job due to the high demand for labor. We also need the commitment of workers.