An application of fuzzy set theory to the prediction of cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremity

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) of the upper extremity are physical ailments of the wrist, arm, and shoulder, caused by the cumulative effect of repeated mechanical stresses. They develop gradually over a period of time and are often believed to be work-related. In this paper, we develop a fuzzy set based methodology to predict the possibility of occurence of CTDs, given the current severity level of the risk factors in a particular work situation. We also use a set covering algorithm to determine the minimum number of CTDs which cover all the risk factors. A learning module is incorporated to constantly update the relationship between CTDs and risk factors, based on real world data. We have developed a prototype computer system and tested the model logic. The results from the initial testing indicate that the proposed methodology provides a good modeling scheme for the prediction problem.