Proper manual handling techniques to prevent low back pain, a Cochrane systematic review.
Training and provision of assistive devices are considered major interventions to prevent and treat low back pain (LBP) among workers exposed to manual material handling (MMH). To establish the effectiveness of training and provision of assistive devices in preventing and treating LBP an update of a Cochrane literature review was performed to November 2010. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies with a concurrent control group (CCTs) were included. Nine RCTs (20.101 employees) and nine CCTs (1280 employees) were included for prevention: six more than in the previous version. No study on treatment was found. None of the included RCTs and CCTs provided evidence that training and provision of assistive devices prevented LBP when compared to no intervention or another intervention.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 310 70701 Kuopio, Finland.
Jos H
JH
Verbeek
Kari-Pekka
KP
Martimo
P Paul F M
PP
Kuijer
Jaro
J
Karppinen
Eira
E
Viikari-Juntura
Esa-Pekka
EP
Takala
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic