title: Isometric lifting strength as a predictor of industrial back pain reports.
abstract: The objective of our investigation was to study isometric lifting strength in a population of industrial workers who perform a great variety of manual tasks, and to determine whether isometric strength is predictive of future back problems in such a population. Of 3,020 study subjects, 2,178 (72%) underwent strength testing in three standard lifting positions. During a 4-year follow-up period, 172 subjects tested reported back problems. When examining each isometric lift separately as a predictor of industrial back pain reports, those with greater isometric strength were at significantly greater risk than were weaker workers. However, after controlling for the effects of age, only a slight trend remained. For the blue collar workers in this study, isometric lifting strength testing was ineffective in identifying individuals at risk for industrial back problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Batti'e
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bigos
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wortley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors