title: Prevalence of low back pain and associated occupational factors among Chinese coal miners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very few studies have evaluated the association between occupational factors and low back pain (LBP) among miners. The epidemiological data on LBP in Chinese miners are limited. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of low back pain in Chinese coal miners and to investigate the role of occupational factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine 1573 coal miners in northern China. The prevalence of LBP over a 12-month period was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Odds ratios were calculated to examine the association between the prevalence of LBP over a 12-month period and occupational factors using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the coal miners, 64.9% self-reported LBP in a 12-month period. Occupational factors associated with LBP were identified, including tasks with a high degree of repetitiveness (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0-1.6), tasks characterized by a high level of physical demand (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8), posture requiring extreme bending (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-1.7) and insufficient recovery time (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-1.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low back pain is common among Chinese miners. There were strong associations with occupational factors.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Center, Medical College of Shantou University, 22 XinLing Road, Shantou 515041, China.
authors.forename: Guangxing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Fengying
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003032:Coal Mining; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D055815:Young Adult