[Low back pain problems among steelworkers].
The associations between low-back pain and occupational work loads, life-style factors, and sociodemographic factors were examined in 469 steel plant workers (436 males, 33 females), mean age (sd): 40 (12) years. Fifty-one per cent had experienced low-back pain during the preceding year. The strongest associations were found between recent low-back pain and domestic recreational activities (> or = h/wk vs 0-2 h/wk), and between recent low-back pain and work pace (too fast vs. adequate), odds ratios (95% confidence limits) being respectively 3.0 (1.5-5.8), and 2.3 (1.2-4.2). We considered a subject to have a particularly severe history of low-back pain if he or she due to low-back trouble (i) had ever been admitted to a hospital, (ii) had ever had to change work or, (iii) had had more than one week's sick-leave accumulated during the preceding year. There was a strong association between a severe low-back pain history and life-time occupational exposure to heavy and frequent lifting on the job. Forty-seven per cent of severe low-back pain events could be ascribed to heavy and frequent lifting, provided the associations were causal. We conclude that domestic recreational activities may be an important potential confounder in studies on occupational risk factors for low-back pain, and that, based on the results of this and of other studies, a case for prevention still seems to exist regarding lifting of heavy burdens in the work environment.
Suadicani
P
P
Arbejdsmedicinsk klinik, Rigshospitalet, København.
Hansen
K
K
Fenger
A M
AM
Gyntelberg
F
F
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016526:Workload