Work-related physical strain and development of joint inflammation in the trajectory of emerging inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Work-related physical strain increases the risk of subclinical joint inflammation and of developing RA. The age relationship suggests an effect of long-term stress or that tenosynovium is more sensitive to stress at older age. Together, the data indicate that mechanical stress contributes to the development of arthritis in RA.