title: Back pain among health care workers in Pennsylvania 2002-2006.
abstract: While back pain is common among health care workers in the United States, the epidemiology of back pain is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and trend of back pain from work-related injuries among health care workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Pennsylvania Work Injuries and Illnesses Reports from 2002 to 2006 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estimated back injuries account for 24.6% of all reported injuries in healthcare workers in Pennsylvania. From 2002 to 2006, there was a 22.5% increase in the incidence of reported back pain in this population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to a lack of detailed reports regarding the incidence of back pain among Pennsylvania healthcare workers, it is recommended that a survey of healthcare workers who perform patient handling be completed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA 02129, USA. dhaladay@mghihp.edu
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Haladay
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Blorstad
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: McBrier
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Denegar
authors.forename: Eugene J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lengerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence