The association between back pain and trunk posture of workers in a special school for the severe handicaps.
BACKGROUND
The present study aims to determine the time spent in different static trunk postures during a typical working day of workers in a special school for the severe handicaps.


METHODS
Eighteen workers with low back pain (LBP) and fifteen asymptomatic workers were recruited. A cross-sectional design was employed to study the time spent in different static trunk postures which was recorded by a biaxial accelerometer attached to the T12 level of the back of the subjects.


RESULTS
The results of ANCOVA revealed that subjects with LBP spent significantly longer percentage of time in static trunk posture when compared to normal (p < 0.05). It was also shown that they spent significantly longer time in trunk flexion for more than 10 degrees (p < 0.0125).


CONCLUSIONS
An innovative method has been developed for continuous tracking of spinal posture, and this has potential for widespread applications in the workplace. The findings of the present investigation suggest that teachers in special schools are at increased risk of getting LBP. In order to minimise such risk, frequent postural change and awareness of work posture are recommended.
Wong
Kelvin C H
KC
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. kelvin_ernie@yahoo.com
Lee
Raymond Y W
RY
Yeung
Simon S
SS
D000054:Acceleration / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001415:Back / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004519:Education, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data