title: [Vibration, back pain and physical exercise in high-risk professionals: a cross-sectional study].
abstract: Repeated loads and vibration stress in professional settings are relevant risk factors for back pain. Aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate: a) the prevalence of back pain in two high-risk professional samples (helicopter pilots and bus drivers); b) the association between physical/sports exercise and back pain subjective perception across age. Prevalence of back pain is 94% in helicopter pilots and 74% in bus drivers; prevalence of back pain significantly increases with age. The positive effect of regular physical/sports exercise on subjective back pain significantly decreases with age. Physical or sports exercise adapted to structural characteristic of patients can result effective in diminishing personal impairment in subjects at professional risk.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra Statistica Medica - Dipartimento Medicina Interna e Sanità Pubblica, Facoltà di Scienze Motorie, Università dell'Aquila, Italy. valenti@cc.univaq.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prosperini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falzano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hendel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raimondi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000367:Age Factors; D000401:Aircraft; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009790:Occupations; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*