Are forward bending of the trunk and low back pain associated among Danish blue-collar workers? A cross-sectional field study based on objective measures.
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between the duration of objectively measured forward bending of the trunk and low back pain (LBP) intensity among 198 Danish blue-collar workers (male = 115; female = 83). The duration of forward bending of ≥ 30°, ≥ 60° and ≥ 90° was divided into high (the highest tertile) and low-moderate (the remaining tertiles) categories. High (>5) and low ( ≤ 5) pain intensities were categorised from a self-reported 0-9 scale. Results of multi-adjusted logistic regressions indicated no significant positive associations between forward bending and LBP intensity. On the contrary, higher duration of forward bending of ≥ 30° was associated with lower LBP intensity during all day (OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.15-1.02; p = 0.05) and work (OR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.17-1.15; p = 0.09). This indication of a negative association may be explained by fear-avoidance behaviour of the blue-collar worker, job crafting or healthy worker effect.
a Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology , Aalborg University , Aalborg, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, DK-9220 Aalborg , Denmark.
Morten
M
Villumsen
Afshin
A
Samani
Marie Birk
MB
Jørgensen
Nidhi
N
Gupta
Pascal
P
Madeleine
Andreas
A
Holtermann
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D060726:Torso / Q000503:physiopathology; D014937:Work / Q000502:physiology*
accelerometry; body posture; diurnal measurements; inclination; musculoskeletal disorders