The role of spinal flexibility in back pain complaints within industry. A prospective study.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Battie MC ; Bigos SJ ; Fisher LD ; Hansson TH ; Nachemson AL ; Spengler DM ; Wortley MD
• Description:
  A study of the role of spinal flexibility in back pain complaints in industrial workers was conducted. The study group consisted of 3020 hourly workers (2350 males), 21 through 67 years old, employed at a Boeing company aircraft manufacturing facility. Spinal flexibility was evaluated by using the modified Schober test and sit and reach, lateral bending, and shoulder lift measurements. Subjects completed a questionnaire to obtain information on back problems they experienced during the preceding 10 years. They were followed for at least 4 years for subjective reports of back pain. A total of 279 subjects reported back problems during the followup period. Subjects who reported back problems tended to be slightly younger than those who did not experience back problems. The incidence of back pain reports did not differ significantly between males and females. None of the flexibility measurements were significantly predictive of future back pain. Subjects with a history of back problems for which medical treatment was sought had slightly, significantly less flexibility by all measures except on the modified Schober test in females than those without a history of back problems. The absolute differences were very small, ranging from 1 millimeter to 2.7 centimeters. The authors conclude that spinal flexibility is of no value in predicting future back problems in the work place. Flexibility measurements appear to reflect past back problems. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Epidemiology Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Safety
• Keywords:
  NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Grant; Musculoskeletal-system-disorders; Back-injuries; Epidemiology; Biomechanics; Body-mechanics; Industrial-factory-workers; Risk-analysis; Musculoskeletal-system
• ISSN:
  0362-2436
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00198553
• Citation:
  Spine 1990 Aug; 15(8):768-773
• Contact Point Address:
  Orthopaedics University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics Seattle, Wash 98195
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1990
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19800401
• Source Full Name:
  Spine
• End Date:
  19870331
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/247723/cdc_247723_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]