To what extent do current and past physical and psychosocial occupational factors explain care-seeking for low back pain in a working population? Results from the Musculoskeletal Intervention Center-Norrtälje Study.
METHODS
A population-based case referent study.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether current and past physical and psychosocial occupational factors are associated with care-seeking for low back pain in working men and women.


BACKGROUND
The importance of physical and psychosocial workloads as causal factors of low back pain has mostly been investigated in special occupational groups and with a cross-sectional design, which makes generalizability and interpretations more difficult.


METHODS
The study comprised 2118 working men and women 20 to 59 years old (695 cases, and 1423 referents). Cases were defined as persons seeking care by any caregiver for low back pain. The exposure assessments were made through questionnaires and interviews about current and past physical and psychosocial loads during work and leisure time.


RESULTS
In a logistic regression analysis, physical load from forward bending in men (RR = 1.8) and high physical load, in general, in women (RR = 2.0) showed increased relative risks. Psychosocial factors alone seemed to be of less importance in women, but "poor job satisfaction" and "mostly routine work without possibilities of learning" increased the risk in men. Combined current and past exposures further increased the risks. A combination of high physical and psychosocial loads increased the risk substantially, but few were exposed to such loads. Adjustment for lifestyle and other loads outside work did not change the results.


CONCLUSIONS
Current and past physical and psychosocial occupational factors, both separately and combined, seem to be gender-specific, and to have a moderate impact on care-seeking for low back pain in a general working population.
Vingård
E
E
Department for Work and Health, National Institute for Working Life, Solna, Sweden. eva.vingard@knv.ki.se
Alfredsson
L
L
Hagberg
M
M
Kilbom
A
A
Theorell
T
T
Waldenström
M
M
Hjelm
E W
EW
Wiktorin
C
C
Hogstedt
C
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology