Association between Physical Workload and Work-related Back Pain: A Nationwide Study.
- Author:
Jae Il OH
1
;
Dong Hyun YOO
;
Do Myung PAEK
;
Jung Sun PARK
;
Sung Il CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea. scho@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Workload;
Back pain;
Workers;
Korea
- MeSH:
Arm;
Back Pain;
Female;
Hand;
Humans;
Korea;
Lifting;
Logistic Models;
Male;
Walking
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2011;23(3):298-308
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To date, no population-based epidemiological studies have estimated the association between physical workload (standing or walking, carrying heavy loads, carrying people, repetitive hand or arm movements, wearing protective equipment) and work-related back pain in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical workload and work-related back pain using a nationwide survey. METHODS: We analyzed data obtained from working men and women age 15 to 64 (n=10,043) who participated in the 2006 national working condition survey of random sample workers in Korea. Using both simple and multiple logistic regression analysis, the association between physical workload and work-related back pain was evaluated. RESULTS: Carrying heavy loads, repetitive hand or arm movements, and wearing protective equipment were associated with an increased risk of work-related back pain. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies that an increased risk of work-related back pain related to the nature and intensity of the physical workload of the general working population in Korea. We also found a strong association between repetitive hand or arm movements and back pain.
