However, current knowledge about the health status and the functional capacity (the ability to perform work-related activities)

of this worker category (Kenny et al. 2008; Berg van den et al. 2009; Broersen et al. 1996) raises the question whether this pursuit is realistic. Older workers with chronic diseases or disorders are specifically at risk of developing work disabilities and loosing their job (Kenny et al. 2008; Schuring et al. 2007). Regarding rheumatic diseases ample evidence indicates that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a negative impact on the work participation of patients (EVP4593 manufacturer Zirkzee et al. 2008; Chorus et al. 2000). For osteoarthritis (OA), however, there is limited information with regard to work participation (Gobelet et al. 2007; Merx et al. 2007) and functional capacity for work-related activities (Bieleman et al. 2007).

This disorder is of particular interest because of its increasing prevalence, Dorsomorphin supplier related to the ageing of populations and the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity (Issa and Sharma 2006). Since people with OA often experience limitations in physical functioning, an effect on work participation may be anticipated. There is a lack of knowledge about the work status and functional capacity of people with early OA compared to healthy people. As a consequence, the need for (preventive) interventions to maintain functional 3-MA capacity and to stimulate work participation Coproporphyrinogen III oxidase remains unclear. Several work-related and individual factors are related to work ability (Berg van den et al. 2009). One of the individual factors is the functional capacity, which

can be assessed with a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE). An FCE is an evaluation of the capacity to perform activities that is used to make recommendations for participation in work, while considering the person’s body functions and structures, environmental factors, personal factors and health status (Soer et al. 2009). FCE’s are used in many countries worldwide in rehabilitation, occupational health care and insurance settings. Performance-based data provide clinicians with additional information about functioning that would be missed when relied on self-reports only (Reneman et al. 2002). The aims of this paper were to assess the self-reported health status and the observed functional capacity of people with early OA in hips and/or knees and to compare these to a reference sample of healthy workers, matched for age and controlled for sex. It was assumed that the functional capacity of healthy workers was sufficient to meet the physical demands in their jobs. This comparison, therefore, enabled assessment of the functional capacity of subjects with OA in relation to physical job demands. Research questions were: 1. Is the self-reported health status of subjects with early OA different from healthy workers?   2. Is the observed functional capacity of subjects with early OA different from healthy workers?   3.