Manual handling activities and risk of low back pain in nurses.

AbstractBackground and aimsTo systemically review the literature to compare freestyle lifting technique, by muscle activity and kinematics, between people with and without low back pain (LBP).MethodsFive databases were searched along with manual searches of retrieved articles by a single reviewer. Studies were included if they compared a freestyle lifting activity between participants with and without LBP. Data were extracted by two reviewers, and studies were appraised using the CASP tool for case-control studies.ResultsNine studies were eligible. Heterogeneity did not allow for meta-analysis. Most studies (n = 8 studies) reported that people with LBP lift differently to pain-free controls. Specifically, people with LBP lift more slowly (n = 6 studies), use their legs more than their back especially when initiating lifting (n = 3 studies), and jerk less during lifting (n = 1 studies). Furthermore, the four larger studies involving people with more severe LBP also showed that people with LBP lift with less spinal range of motion and greater trunk muscle activity for a longer period.ConclusionsPeople with LBP move slower, stiffer, and with a deeper knee bend than pain-free people during freestyle lifting tasks. Interestingly, such a lifting style mirrors how people, with and without LBP, are often told how to lift during manual handling training. The cross-sectional nature of the comparisons does not allow for causation to be determined.ImplicationsThe changes described may show embodiment of cautious movement, and the drive to protect the back. There may be value in exploring whether adopting a lifting style closer to that of pain-free people could help reduce LBP.

Download Full-text

Manual handling of patients: role of kinesiophobia and catastrophizing in health workers with chronic low back pain

European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.23736/s1973-9087.20.06004-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luigi I. Lecca ◽

Daniele Fabbri ◽

Igor Portoghese ◽

Ilaria Pilia ◽

Federico Meloni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Chronic Low Back Pain ◽

Health Workers ◽

Low Back ◽

Manual Handling

Download Full-text

Effects of Manual Handling, Posture, and Whole Body Vibrations on Low-Back Pain

International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics ◽

10.1080/10803548.1998.11076404 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 449-470 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jean-Pierre Meyer ◽

Dominique Flenghi ◽

Jean-Pierre Deschamps

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Whole Body ◽

Low Back ◽

Manual Handling ◽

Whole Body Vibrations

Download Full-text

Manual handling of heavy loads and low back pain among different occupational groups: results of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04819-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Martha Sauter ◽

Julia Barthelme ◽

Charlotte Müller ◽

Falk Liebers

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Regression Model ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Working Hours ◽

Full Time ◽

Low Back ◽

Occupational Groups ◽

Manual Handling ◽

Employment Survey

Abstract Background In Germany and other European countries, many occupations still involve manual handling of loads (MHL), an activity that puts the musculoskeletal system at risk of low back pain (LBP). This study aims to describe the current prevalence of MHL in different occupational groups stratified by gender in Germany, the association between MHL and LBP and the adjusted prevalence of LBP in different respond-categories of MHL. Methods Data was collected in telephone interviews conducted as part of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey, which covers work-related topics like working conditions, education, health status and job satisfaction. The analyses were limited to full-time workers (> 35 h/week) aged between 15 and 67. The frequency of MHL was analysed descriptively. BLOSSFELD classification was used to group the participants in occupational categories. The analysis of the association between MHL and the prevalence of LBP over the last 12 months was based on robust log-linear Poisson regression that results in prevalence ratios (PR). The main regression model was adjusted for gender, age, working hours, and working conditions. Adjusted estimates for the prevalence of LBP were calculated based on regression analysis. Results The sample consists of n = 14,331 participants (men: n = 8828, 61.6%; women: n = 5503, 38.4%; median age 49 years). Of these, 52.8% say they were exposed to MHL at work. MHL is most common in agricultural occupations, skilled and unskilled occupations. In the regression model, participants who said they were “often” exposed to MHL reported more frequently LBP than those participants who said they were “never” exposed to MHL. The PR as estimate for the association is 1.41 (95%CI [1.32; 1.49]). Postestimation of the prevalence of LBP began with 47.3% (95%CI [43.8%; 51.1%]) for participants who said they were “never” exposed to MHL and rose to 66.5% (95%CI [62.4%; 71.0%]) for participants who indicated they were “often” exposed to MHL. Conclusions The 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey emphasizes that MHL is still common in the German workforce and shows a significant association to LBP. Prevention policies for avoiding MHL remain vital.

Download Full-text

Fear of movement, passive coping, manual handling, and severe or radiating pain increase the likelihood of sick leave due to low back pain

Pain ◽

10.1016/j.pain.2011.02.041 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 152 (7) ◽

pp. 1517-1524 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Anna P. Dawson ◽

Philip J. Schluter ◽

Paul W. Hodges ◽

Simon Stewart ◽

Catherine Turner

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Sick Leave ◽

Low Back ◽

Passive Coping ◽

Fear Of Movement ◽

Manual Handling

Download Full-text

The impact of manual handling training on beliefs regarding low back pain

European Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.1080/21679169.2020.1815837 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Diarmuid Horgan ◽

Helen Purtill ◽

Eva Ryan ◽

Kieran O’Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Manual Handling ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

A Human-Centered Approach to Hazard Evaluation Checklists for the Risk of Back Pain in Manual Handling Tasks

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621198 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 870-874

Author(s):

Ceyda Dündar

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Wrist Pain ◽

Hazard Evaluation ◽

Low Back ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Coffee Shop ◽

Work Related ◽

Manual Handling

Low back pain is one the most common medical problems in the U.S. In workplaces, manual handling tasks show strong evidence for low back pain. Hazard Evaluation Checklists are commonly used as a rapid ergonomic assessment to evaluate the risk of back pain in manual handling tasks. However, this tool focuses on only job-specific tasks instead of aiming to detect the possibility of having back pain in individuals. It was proposed that a human-centered checklist that assesses workers’ welfare in addition to the analysis of the worksite might predict low back pain risk in workers more accurately. In the current study, a case study was conducted to show the importance of focusing on workers’ welfare. In the ergonomic assessment of a coffee shop, it was found that the tasks of baristas were more likely to cause low back pain and wrist pain. The barista who was working in housekeeping, mopping floors, reported that she suffers from low back pain more than wrist pain. However, the barista who was playing guitar professionally reported wrist pain. These case study findings supported the claim that the risk of occurrence of low back pain might increase with the combination of work-related tasks and contributory factors. Thus, a human-centered checklist proposed including four sub-categories: the main manual handling tasks, a second job, non-work related activities, and personal risk factors. It was proposed that efforts to limit low back pain in society might be more successful with this human-centered approach.

Download Full-text

Association Between Manual Handling of Loads and Occupational Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study with Brazilians Workers

Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health II - Studies in Systems, Decision and Control ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-41486-3_51 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 471-479

Author(s):

Luciano Fernandes Monteiro ◽

José Wendel dos Santos ◽

Odelsia Leonor Sanchez de Alsina

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Low Back ◽

Manual Handling ◽

Occupational Low Back Pain ◽

Control Study

Download Full-text

MAPO Method to Assess the Risk of Patient Manual Handling in Hospital Wards: A Validation Study

Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ◽

10.1177/0018720819869119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (7) ◽

pp. 1141-1149

Author(s):

Carlo Cantarella ◽

Giulia Stucchi ◽

Olga Menoni ◽

Dario Consonni ◽

Silvia Cairoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Positive Association ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Assessment Procedure ◽

Low Back ◽

Acute Low Back Pain ◽

Manual Handling

Objective To validate the effectiveness of MAPO method (Movement and Assistance of Hospital Patient) after the introduction of some changes to improve assessment objectivity. Background The number of operators exposed to patient manual handling is increasing considerably. MAPO, proposed in 1999 as a useful tool to estimate the risk of patient manual handling, is a method characterized by analytical quickness. It has recently been improved to better match the 2012 ISO (International Organization for Standardization) technical report. Methods A multicenter study was conducted between 2014 and 2016 involving 26 Italian hospitals in the Apulia Region. MAPO method was used to assess the risk of patient manual handling in 116 wards. A total of 1,998 exposed subjects were evaluated for the presence or absence of acute low back pain in the previous 12 months. Results Only 12% of the investigated wards fell in the green exposure level (MAPO index = 0.1–1.5), 37% resulted in the average exposure level (MAPO index = 1.51–5) and the remaining 51% in the higher exposure level (MAPO index >5). The results confirmed a positive association between increasing levels of MAPO index and the number of episodes of acute low back pain (adjusted p trend = .001). Conclusion The improvements made over the past years led to a more objective assessment procedure. Despite the changes, the study confirmed the effectiveness of MAPO method to predict low back pain. Application MAPO method is an accurate risk assessment tool that identifies and evaluates workplace risks. The proper application of the method significantly improves working conditions.

Download Full-text