scholarly journals Is hard physical work in the early working life associated with back pain later in life? A cross-sectional study among 5700 older workers

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e040158
Author(s):  
Rúni Bláfoss ◽  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Rubén López‐Bueno ◽  
Joaquin Calatayud ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Working Life ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Musculoskeletal Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Work Demands

ObjectivesPhysically demanding work increases the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders during working life, with low back pain (LBP) as the most prevalent and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder worldwide. However, a lack of knowledge exists about the role of early working years on musculoskeletal health later in life. This study investigated whether an exposure–response association exists between physical demands in early working life and risk of LBP in later working life.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting, participants and outcome measureIn the SeniorWorkingLife study, 5909 wage earners aged ≥50 years with currently sedentary work replied to a questionnaire survey in 2018 about physical work demands during their first working years (exposure) and current LBP (outcome). Associations between physical work demands in the early working years and current LBP were modelled using general linear models controlling for various confounders, combined with model-assisted weights based on national registers.ResultsHard physical work during early working life was associated with more intense LBP later in life among senior workers with currently sedentary jobs. In the fully adjusted model, workers with ‘standing/walking work with lifting/carrying’ and ‘heavy or fast work that is physically strenuous’ during the first years of working life reported higher LBP intensity than those with sedentary work during their first working years (0.2 (95% CI, 0.0 to 0.4) and 0.6 (95% CI, 0.4 to 0.9), respectively).ConclusionWork involving lifting/carrying or work that is physically strenuous in early life is associated with higher intensity of LBP among older workers with currently sedentary employment. These findings suggest that early working life may have an impact on later working years and underscore the necessity for careful introduction and instruction to the working environment for retaining musculoskeletal health and prolonging working life.Trial registration numberNCT03634410.

scholarly journals Is low-back pain a limiting factor for senior workers with high physical work demands? A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Pascal Nygaard ◽  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Lars Louis Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Work Demands ◽  
Pain Outcome

Abstract Background Low-back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among senior workers and may affect work ability, especially among those with hard physical work. This study determined the joint association of LBP intensity and physical work demands with work limitiations due to pain in senior workers. Methods In the SeniorWorkingLife study (2018), 11,738 senior workers (≥50 years) replied to questions about physical work demands, LBP intensity, and work limitations due to pain. Using logistic regression analyses and controlling for potential confounders, associations between the physical work demands and LBP intensity (interaction) with work limitiations due to pain (outcome) was modeled. Results Higher LBP intensity, as well as higher physical work demands, significantly increased the odds of experiencing work limitiations due to pain, and these two factors interacted with each other (p < 0.0001). In analyses stratified for LBP intensity, higher physical work demands gradually increased the odds of experiencing work limitiations due to pain. Conclusions Senior workers with a combination of physically demanding work and LBP are more affected by their pain during everyday work tasks compared to workers with similar LBP-intensity in sedentary occupations. Accommodation of work demands seems especially relevant for this group of workers.

scholarly journals Association of perceived work pace and physical work demands with occupational accidents: a cross-sectional study of ageing male construction workers in Denmark

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernille Weber Hansen ◽  
Vivi Schlünssen ◽  
Kirsten Fonager ◽  
Jakob Hjort Bønløkke ◽  
Claus D. Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Occupational Accidents ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Occupational Accident ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Work Demands ◽  
Ageing Male

Abstract Background Occupational accidents continue to be a significant public health challenge worldwide. Construction workers in particular are at high risk of occupational accidents, and thus it is of major importance to identify possible predictors of occupational accidents among construction workers. We aimed to investigate the association between self-reported work pace and physical work demands and occupational accidents among ageing male construction workers in Denmark. Methods Data on perceived work pace, physical work demands, and occupational accidents was acquired from questionnaires sent to ageing construction workers in Denmark in 2016 as part of the ALFA project (ALdring og Fysisk Arbejde; Ageing and Physical Work). A sample of 1270 Danish male construction workers above 50 years of age was included in the present study. Multiple logistic regression models were applied, with adjustments for age, smoking, body mass index, musculoskeletal disorders, occupation, work experience, and support at work. Results Of 1270 construction workers, 166 (13.1%) reported an occupational accident within the last 12 months. There was no significant association between perceived work pace and occupational accidents, but physical work demands were associated with higher odds for occupational accidents, with an odds ratio of 2.27 (95% confidence interval 1.26–4.10) for medium physical work demands and 2.62 (95% confidence interval 1.50–4.57) for high physical work demands. Conclusions Ageing male construction workers with high physical work demands had statistically significant higher odds of having an occupational accident. By contrast, perceived work pace was not associated with occupational accidents in this large cross-sectional study.

scholarly journals Comparison of two self-reported measures of physical work demands in hospital personnel: A cross-sectional study

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Nabe-Nielsen ◽  
Nils Fallentin ◽  
Karl B Christensen ◽  
Jette N Jensen ◽  
Finn Diderichsen
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Hospital Personnel ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Work Demands

scholarly journals Important work demands for reducing sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain: a prospective cohort study

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Oliv ◽  
Ewa Gustafsson ◽  
Adnan Noor Baloch ◽  
Mats Hagberg ◽  
Helena Sandén
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Work Demand ◽  
Physical Work Demands ◽  
Work Ability Score

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate what exposure to work demands, physical and psychosocial, is associated with lower levels of sickness absence among workers with neck or upper back pain in different groups, by age, gender, duration of sickness absence and work ability score. Methods This study was a prospective study of 4567 workers with neck or upper back pain. Data on neck or upper back pain, work demand and work ability were obtained from the Swedish Work Environment survey over a 3–year period (2009–2013). Register data on sickness absence, 1 year after each survey was conducted, were obtained from the Swedish health insurance database. Analyses were performed to estimate the association between self-reported work demands and registered sick days > 14 days. The analyses were stratified for gender, age group and work ability score. Results Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting low exposure to lifting ≥15 kg and twisted or forward-leaning work postures. Lower numbers of sick days were found for workers reporting high work control and seated work. The associations were generally stronger in the older age groups for the physical work demands. Conclusions The findings in this study suggest that certain physical work demands and having high control over one’s work can result in lower sickness absence, especially among middle-aged and older workers with neck or upper back pain.

scholarly journals Joint association of physical work demands and leg pain intensity for work limitations due to pain in senior workers: cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Venge Skovlund ◽  
Rúni Bláfoss ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Kristina Thomassen ◽  
Lars L. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Work Demands ◽  
Aging Workforce ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Work Demands ◽  
Physical Work Environment

Abstract Background Leg pain, especially of the knees and hips, is common among senior workers and may limit the ability to perform physically demanding work. In light of the aging workforce, this study determined the joint association of physical work demands and leg pain intensity for work-limiting pain in senior workers. Methods Currently employed senior workers (≥50 years) participated in the SeniorWorkingLife study in 2018 (n = 12,879). Associations between the combination of physical work demands and leg pain intensity (interaction) with work-limiting pain (outcome) were modeled using binary logistic regression analyses while controlling for potential covariates. Results We found a significant interaction (P < 0.001) between physical work demands and leg pain intensity for work-limiting pain. The combination of higher physical work demands and higher leg pain intensity had the worst outcome in terms of the odds of experiencing work-limiting pain. For example, 70% of those with the combination of high physical work demands and leg pain intensity ≥7 (scale 0–10) experienced that the pain limited them to at least some degree in their work. Conclusions The combination of high physical work demands and high leg pain intensity are associated with limited ability to perform work among senior workers. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing the physical work environment in physically demanding occupations, particularly among senior workers, for prolonging working life. Thus, adjusting the work demands, e.g. through use of assistive devices, and lowering the pain, e.g. through physical rehabilitation, may be necessary to sustain work ability to a high age in this group of workers. Trial registration This was registered as a cohort study in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT03634410) on the 18th of August 2018 (Retrospectively registered).

scholarly journals Sensorimotor and body perception assessments of nonspecific chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Meier ◽  
C. Emch ◽  
C. Gross-Wolf ◽  
F. Pfeiffer ◽  
A. Meichtry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sensorimotor System ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Clinical Tests ◽  
Body Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, causing significant personal and social burden. Current research is focused on the processes of the central nervous system (particularly the sensorimotor system) and body perception, with a view to developing new and more efficient ways to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Several clinical tests have been suggested that might have the ability to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system. These include back-photo assessment (BPA), two-point discrimination (TPD), and the movement control tests (MCT). The aim of this study was to determine whether the simple clinical tests of BPA, TPD or MCT are able to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects with altered body perception and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. At one point in time, 30 subjects with CLBP and 30 healthy controls were investigated through using BPA, TPD and MCT on the lower back. Correlations among the main covariates and odds ratios for group differences were calculated. Results MCT showed an odds ratio for the presence of CLBP of 1.92, with a statistically significant p-value (0.049) and 95%CI. The TPD and BPA tests were unable to determine significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Of the three tests investigated, MCT was found to be the only suitable assessment to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects and healthy controls. The MCT can be recommended as a simple clinical tool to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of nonspecific CLBP subjects. This could facilitate the development of tailored management strategies for this challenging LBP subgroup. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the potential of all the tests to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of CLBP subjects. Trial registration No trial registration was needed as the study contains no intervention. The study was approved by the Swiss Ethics Commission of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ) reference number 2015–243.

scholarly journals Association between chronic low back pain and degree of stress: a nationwide cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungwoo Choi ◽  
Sangun Nah ◽  
Hae-Dong Jang ◽  
Ji Eun Moon ◽  
Sangsoo Han
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Severe Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Korean People ◽  
Using Data

AbstractLow back pain (LBP) is a very common health problem worldwide, and has a major impact on quality of life. This is a cross-sectional study using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to investigate the health and nutritional status of Korean people, conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The total of 8,473 patients included in the analysis. A 357 (19.34%) subjects in the chronic LBP group and 1,697 (25.61%) subjects in the no chronic LBP group reported no stress (P < 0.001). The numbers of subjects reporting mild, moderate, and severe stress in the two groups were 934 (50.6%) vs. 3,785 (57.11%), 432 (23.4%) vs. 910 (13.73%), and 123 (6.66%) and 235 (3.55%), respectively (all P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis with full adjustment for other variables indicated higher OR for severe stress (OR 2.82, P < 0.001) than moderate (OR 2.54, P < 0.001) and mild (OR 1.55, P < 0.001) stress. We confirmed that there was a significant association between chronic LBP and degree of stress. Therefore, the degree of stress should be assessed in clinical treatment of chronic LBP patients.

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