[Disorders of locomotor system and effectiveness of physiotherapy in coal miners].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the survey was to analyze the efficacy of physiotherapy applied in coal miners as well as to assess their locomotor system load and the effects of working conditions in mines.


METHODS
The questionnaire survey covered a group of 51 miners, aged 28-76 years (mean, 54 years), undergoing physiotherapeutic procedures in the mine out-patient clinic during the first quarter of 2003.


RESULTS
The survey revealed that lumbosacral disorders were the most frequent locomotor system complaints reported by miners, especially those who work in a bending down position. According to the clinical data, spondylosis and allied disorders were the main reasons for pain in this part of the body. Having analyzed the relationship between age and occurrence of back pains, the majority of complaints were found in the 46-55 age group (two complaints per one respondent). The analysis of the association between back pains and duration of employment revealed that the complaints for the locomotor system occurred already after a five-year employment.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey showed that the application of physiotherapeutic procedures diminished the back pain in the study group by 2.83 on average on the 0-10 scale. It was also found that magnetotherapy proved to be the most effective method in treating the spinal degenerative changes.
Bilski
Bartosz
B
Katedry Profilaktyki Zdrowotnej, Akademii Medycznej im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu. bilskib@polbox.com
Bednarek
Agata
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003032:Coal Mining; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods; D011044:Poland; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires