Sedentary Work Exerting up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work Exerting up to 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of the arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most the time, the job is rated Light Work.

Medium Work Exerting up to 50 (22.7 kg) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg) of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of forces constantly to move objects.

Heavy Work Exerting up to 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Very Heavy Work Exerting in excess of 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Job Classification

In most duration tables, five job classifications are displayed. These job classifications are based on the amount of physical effort required to perform the work. The classifications correspond to the Strength Factor classifications described in the United States Department of Labor's Dictionary of Occupational Titles. The following definitions are quoted directly from that publication.

Sedentary Work Exerting up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work Exerting up to 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of the arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most the time, the job is rated Light Work.

Medium Work Exerting up to 50 (22.7 kg) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg) of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of forces constantly to move objects.

Heavy Work Exerting up to 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Very Heavy Work Exerting in excess of 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Arthropathy


Related Terms

  • Joint disease
  • Neuropathic arthropathy
  • Osteoarthropathy

Specialists

  • Internal Medicine Physician
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Orthopedic (Orthopaedic) Surgeon
  • Physiatrist
  • Physical Therapist

Comorbid Conditions

Factors Influencing Duration

Duration depends on cause and underlying diagnosis. Length of disability depends on the specific diagnosis of the condition causing symptoms and the individual's job requirements. Depending on the reasons for the condition, some individuals may not be able to return to work as quickly as others; disability depends on the type of duties involved and response to treatment.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
274.0 - Gouty Arthropathy (Gouty Arthritis)
711 - Arthropathy Associated with Infections
712 - Crystal Arthropathies, Includes Crystal-induced Arthritis and Synovitis
713 - Arthropathy Associated with Other Disorders Classified Elsewhere
716 - Other and Unspecified Arthropathies
716.1 - Traumatic Arthropathy
716.10 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Site Unspecified
716.11 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Shoulder Region; Acromioclavicular Joint(s); Glenohumeral Joint(s); Sternoclavicular Joint(s); Clavicle; Scapula
716.14 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Hand; Carpus; Metacarpus; Phalanges [Fingers]
716.15 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Pelvic Region and Thigh; Buttock, Femur, Hip (Joint)
716.16 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Lower Leg; Fibula; Knee Joint; Patella; Tibia
716.17 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Ankle and Foot; Ankle Joint; Digits [Toes]; Metatarsus; Phalanges, Foot; Tarsus; Other Joints in Foot
716.18 - Traumatic Arthropathy, Other Specific Sites; Head; Neck; Ribs; Skull; Trunk; Vertebral Column
716.4 - Transient Arthropathy
716.5 - Unspecified Polyarthropathy or Polyarthritis
716.8 - Other Specified Arthropathy
716.9 - Arthropathy, Unspecified; Arthritis (Acute) (Chronic) (Subacute); Articular Rheumatism (Chronic); Inflammation of Joint, NOS
716.91 - Arthropathy, Unspecified; Arthritis (Acute) (Chronic) (Subacute); Articular Rheumatism (Chronic); Inflammation of Joint, NOS, Shoulder Region; Acromioclavicular Joint(s); Glenohumeral Joint(s); Sternoclavicular Joint(s); Clavicle; Scapula
716.96 - Arthropathy, Unspecified; Arthritis (Acute) (Chronic) (Subacute); Articular Rheumatism (Chronic); Inflammation of Joint, NOS, Lower Leg; Fibula; Knee Joint; Patella; Tibia
716.97 - Arthropathy, Unspecified; Arthritis (Acute) (Chronic) (Subacute); Articular Rheumatism (Chronic); Inflammation of Joint, NOS, Ankle and Foot; Ankle Joint; Digits [Toes]; Metatarsus; Phalanges, Foot; Tarsus; Other Joints in Foot

Treatment

Treatment depends upon the specific diagnosis and the underlying cause of joint pain or inflammation. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory oral medications are used in early and in late stage arthropathy. In some diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), potent anti-inflammatory medications may be used to reduce the destructive inflammatory process, and immunosuppressive drugs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS), or biologic therapies may be used to slow the progression of the disease. In other diseases such as osteoarthritis, medication may control symptoms but does not change the progression of the disease. Short-term immobilization using a resting splint or special immobilizing boot may help decrease the speed of joint destruction in a peripheral joint. Arthropathy may be treated with physical and/or occupational therapy to instruct the individual in stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as in joint protection strategies. Antibiotics may be required to treat arthropathy secondary to underlying infectious arthritis.

Painful spinal joints can be selectively injected with a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid to reduce back pain. Similarly, joints in the upper and lower limbs may be injected with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid or with hyaluronic acid derivatives to improve joint lubrication. The pain relief from injections is temporary. If effective, the injections can be repeated.

Surgery may be required in cases of severe arthropathy. In the spine, hypertrophic facet arthropathy may require partial facetectomy, decompressive laminectomy, or spinal fusion if spinal nerves are being compressed by new bone formation. Spinal fusion may also be necessary if spinal instability is present. If a joint is unstable, arthrodesis may be necessary using stabilizing hardware (internal fixation) or bone grafting to stabilize the joint and reduce pain. Total joint replacement may be necessary (e.g., total knee or hip replacement) if joint surfaces have been destroyed.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



ACOEM

ACOEM's Practice Guidelines, the gold standard in effective medical treatment of occupational injuries and illnesses, are provided in this section to complement the disability duration guidelines.*
 
Chronic Pain
 
* The relationship between the MDGuidelines (MDA) content and ACOEM's guidelines is approximate and does not always link identical diagnoses. The user should consult the diagnostic codes in both guidelines, as well as the clinical descriptions, before assuming an equivalence.

Source: ACOEM Practice Guidelines






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