Does occupational lifting and carrying among female health care workers contribute to an escalation of pain-day frequency?
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to investigate if different frequencies, loads and trunk postures of occupational lifting and carrying increases the risk of sub-chronic (1-30 days last 12 months) low back pain (LBP) to become persistent (>30 days last 12 months) among female health care workers.


METHODS
Female health care workers answered a questionnaire about occupational lifting or carrying frequency (rarely, occasionally and frequently), load (low: 1-7 kg, moderate: 8-30 kg and heavy: >30 kg) and trunk posture (upright or forward bent back), and days with LBP in 2005 and 2006.


RESULTS
The odds ratio (OR) for developing persistent LBP in 2006 from these characteristics of occupational lifting and carrying was investigated with multi-adjusted logistic regressions among female health care workers with sub-chronic LBP (n = 2381) in 2005. Among health care workers with sub-chronic LBP, increased risk of persistent LBP was found from frequently lifting or carrying with forward bent back of moderate loads (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.15-2.33) and heavy loads (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.04-2.34). No increased risk for LBP to develop into a persistent condition was found for frequent lifting with upright back, frequent lifting or carrying of light loads, or occasionally lifting or carrying of any loads.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive initiatives for sub-chronic LBP to develop into a persistent condition ought to focus on reducing frequent lifting and carrying of moderate and heavy loads with forward bent back.
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark. aho@nrcwe.dk
A
A
Holtermann
T
T
Clausen
B
B
Aust
O S
OS
Mortensen
L L
LL
Andersen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires