Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Indium ; Life Tables ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Health ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

According to human biomechanics the ideal static equilibrium model of stooped human body was built, based on which a wearable stoop-assist device (WSAD) as an intervention to reduce the load on the erector spinae was developed. Electromyography (EMG) experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the WSAD. Results showed that the integrated EMG of the thoracic erector spinae (TES), the lumbar erector spinae (LES), the latissimus dorsi (LD) and the rectus abdominis (RA) were reduced by 43%, 48%, 32% and 14% respectively, when Sagittal trunk bent forward to 90 degrees from the vertical. Therefore, by reducing back erector spinae activity, the WSAD could reduce the incidence of developing LBP for those who adopt the prolonged stooped posture in work.
Humans ; Incidence ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Posture ; Protective Devices

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors of nonspecific low back pain in community populations.

METHODSTwo community populations were investigated using questionnaires in this case-control study. The questionnaire was designed to collect data including age, gender, body weight, marriage, education, income, occupation, labor intensity, smoking, alcohol drinking and social mental status. The subjects with low back pain constituted the case group and those without low back pain served as the control group, and the data was analyzed by a Logistic regression model.

RESULTSA total of 1747 community residents participated in this survey, among whom 398 subjects had low back pain and 1126 subjects without low back pain were selected as the control group. Of all the latent risk factors of low back pain in Logistic regression model, gender was the most relevant factor (OR=3.5522) followed by education (OR=1.958), labor intensity (OR=1.956), marital status (OR=1.612), vibration source exposure (OR=1.491), BMI (OR=1.127) and age (OR=1.060).

CONCLUSIONGender, education, labor intensity, marriage, vibration source exposure and BMI are risk factors of nonspecific low back pain in community populations, and exercises and mental status can be protective factors against low back pain.

Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of low back pain among the Chinese occupational population in several major industries.

METHODSA total of 7200 subjects (3600 cases and 3600 controls) were randomly sampled from a cross-sectional study, and they were investigated for individual and occupational factors of low back pain. The potential risk factors were first selected by using chi-square tests. Secondly, collinearity diagnosis proceeded by using the Kendall's rank correlation. Finally, binary logistic regression model was used for multi-factor analysis.

RESULTSCollinearity diagnosis showed that there was a severe collinearity problem among the potential risk factors of low back pain. Logistic regression model included 20 variables with statistical significance. Bending neck forward or holding neck in a forward posture for long periods (OR=1.408) was the most important risk factor inducing low back pain in this study, followed by bending heavily with the trunk (OR=1.402), carrying out identical work almost for the whole day (OR=1.340). Additionally, sufficient normal break was a protective factor of low back pain.

CONCLUSIONLow back pain among the Chinese occupational population was associated with body height, occupation, work organization, physical work, working posture, and others. All these risk factors could be regarded as the indicators of low back pain, and some relevant preventive measures should be taken to reduce low back pain risk.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Occupations ; Posture ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the awareness of occupational low back pain and knowledge of related prevention and healthcare measures among midwives, and to determine the incidence of low back pain among them.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was carried out with the use of Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (Chinese version) (CRMDQ) among 244 midwives from second- and third-class hospitals in Tianjin, China. Related indices were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSAmong 244 midwives who participated in the survey, only 18.4% knew the definition of occupational low back pain, 28.3% knew the pathogenic mechanism, and 54.1% knew its harm. About 9.4%∼85.2% of midwives mastered at least one method for prevention and health care against occupational low back pain. Proper or improper use of human body mechanics was closely related to the development of occupational low back pain (P < 0.01). There was a high proportion of midwives with a demand for application of human body mechanics principle in operation, and the proportion was as high as 99.2%. All the 24 items in CRMDQ were scored, with the lowest score of 1, the highest score of 24, and an average score of 8.5 ± 7.2.

CONCLUSIONThe awareness rate of occupational low back pain was low among the 244 midwives in this study. The incidence of low back pain, which had influenced the health status and occupational practice, was high among them.

Adult ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Midwifery ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the low back pain(LBP) and its cause on female workers in flat-grained veneer wood industry.

METHODSBending posture was analyzed by observation and the prevalence of low back pain was investigated by physical examination and questionnaire among 299 female workers.

RESULTSThe prevalence of fatigue compliant in selecting, remending and sticking workers was 68.8%, 66.7% and 59.0%, respectively, which mainly involved in the part of low back. The prevalence of low back pain in selection (53.8%) and remending (58.7%) workers was higher than that in sticking workers (30.1%), which was in accordance with the tenderness between L4/L5 or L5/L6 and on the psoas major. Posture analysis indicated that the biggest bending range of selecting and remending workers (80 degrees ) was larger than that of sticking workers (60 degrees ), as well as the daily bending times[(4396+/-817), (1696+/-286), (1094+/-476)] and the time they kept bending[(6.5+/-0.6), (6.2+/-1.3), 4.5+/-0.9) h].

CONCLUSIONBending posture is common among female workers especially those who work in selecting and remending and might be the major causes for the high prevalence of LBP in flat-grained veneer wood industry.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Wood

STUDY DESIGN: The same contents of questionnaire about the low back pain(LBP) were conducted among the Korean and the Japanese hospital workers. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of LBP and the correlates of occupation and care-seeking. SUMMARY OF LITERATUR REVIEW: Previous epidemiological researches about LBP were usually performed within a country, Korean researches were for the Korean population and Japanese for the Japanese. MATERIAL & METHODS: The history, the cause, the frequency, the severity, and the method of treatment of LBP were compared between the Korean (N=336) and the Japanese (N=428) hospital workers RESULTS: The prevalence of past LBP history were higher in Korean (80%) than in Japanese case(68%), but the percentage of care-seeking (Japan: 64% & Korea: 49%) and lost workdays (9% & 7%) were inverted. The prevalence was the highest in nurse occupation (73% & 89%), and most of these cases reported the cause of LBP as work-related (72% & 71%), which was much higher than the other occupations (34% & 39%). Among the care-seeking (Japan: N=186, Korea: N=131), the percentage of hospital visit was higher in Japanese (43%) than in Korean case (24%). The other methods of care included pharmacy, massage, finger-pressure therapy, acupuncture and moxa, and these were similarly prefered by two countries. CONCLUSION: Epidemiology of LBP was compared between Japanese and Korean hospital worktors. Further study will be needed to compare the actual epidemiology of an LBP.(232 words)
Acupuncture Therapy ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Epidemiology* ; Humans ; Korea ; Low Back Pain* ; Massage ; Occupations ; Pharmacy ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUNDLow back pain (LBP) is a major medical and social problem among working populations and is associated with high medical expense, loss of productivity, and disability. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of LBP among soldiers and evaluate the possible causative factors in military training. The results may provide an insight into changes needed in military training that will reduce the occurrence of LBP among soldiers.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a group of young soldiers in China to estimate the prevalence of LBP and evaluate possible causative factors in military training.

RESULTSThe survey was distributed to 1659 soldiers, of whom 1624 responded. LBP was reported by 425 of the 1624 (26.2%) soldiers. The prevalence of LBP was higher in the armored force (51.3%) than in the artillery (27.5%) or infantry (11.9%). A multivariate logical regression analysis identified night training, 5 km cross-country race, and grenade-throwing training as military training risk factors for LBP.

CONCLUSIONSThe relatively high incidence of LBP among soldiers was related to night training, 5 km racing, and grenade throwing. Modifications in these training methods should enhance the health of recruits and lower the incidence of LBP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of lower back pain of truck drivers in plateau areas with an analysis of the causes and evaluated the effects of the protective measures.

METHODSThe self-reported lower back symptom was investigated by questionnaire in 1,132 male drivers in plateau areas. Vibration of the driver lumbar back was measured real time with or without wearing corset. Study the effect of the special corset for drivers and the massage on back by self-control design of big sample intervention experiments.

RESULTSThe prevalence of lower back pain of drivers in plateau areas was 86.1%. High level of its prevalence is due to many factors. Special corset for drivers and massage on back by themselves can reduce the degree of the pain.

CONCLUSIONDriving in plateau areas is a special occupational work with high level of prevalence of lower back pain which can be prevented.

Automobile Driving ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires