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Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, Vol. 14, No. 4, December 2004 ( CErgonomics and the Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2nd edn. Sanders, M.J.(ed). Butterworth/Heinemann. St. Louis, MO, 2004, 556 pp., $59.95.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) reached epidemic proportions in the
late 1980s. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of cases peaked in 1994
with a modest decline throughout the ensuing years (1). The adverse impact on industry and
individuals has been significant when considering associated productivity losses, degraded
employee performance, lost time, medical and indemnity costs, and other direct/indirect
costs. Almost 1 million people lose time from work each year due to MSDs of the lower
back and upper extremities resulting in a cost to our society of approximately $450 billion
annually (2). Appropriate ergonomic interventions have been shown to be effective in terms