scholarly journals Ergonomic Factors Associated with Lower Back Pain Amongst Load-Haul-Dump Truck Operators at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, Bindura, Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
Gugulethu Dube ◽  
◽  
Brian Chanda Chiluba ◽  

Background:Lower back pain is broadly defined discomfort or pain within the lumbar region of the human spine and it is the leading cause of function limitation, resulting in significant losses in productivity and billions of dollars in medical costs yearly. Its prevalence is estimated to be associated with a lower socioeconomic status and lower education levels. The intention of this study was to analyse the ergonomic factors linked with lower back pain amongst load-haul-dump truck operators at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine. Methods: A descriptive non-interventional cross-sectional study was used with the probit model and the chi-square used as the estimation techniques. The simple random sampling method was adopted in the survey with a total of 140 respondents who are all employees at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine, Zimbabwe. The Statistical Package Stata was used12. Results: The study indicated that 77.8% of the respondents suffered lower back pain at one time or the other. Results showed an association between lower back pain with demographic factors such as experience, gender and age, organisational factors such as type and duration of shift work, biomechanical factors such as lifting and handling protocols, postures, whole body vibrations exposure resulting from work related conditions such as road conditions, equipment conditions and design and other psychosocial factors. Conclusion: Therefore, the study promoted the adoption of a broad approach to reduction and management of LBP, including equipment engineering solutions to manage whole body vibration exposure, operator education, equipment assistive technology, strong equipment maintenance regime.Further interventions include adoption of best practice systems and improved clinical treatment systems

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-481
Author(s):  
P. Bossi ◽  
P. Meert

BACKGROUND: Whole-body vibration is a major cause of lower back pain among employees, and the medical and preventive care teams of occupational health departments are often confronted with lower back pain problems among machine operators. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this research are to determine the number of excavator drivers exposed to whole-body vibration levels above 0.5m/s2, identify other exposure factors that may contribute to back pain, and propose corrective measures. METHODS: Vibration measurements were carried out on individual excavator drivers while they were observed carrying out working tasks, after which prevention advice is given. Factors which determine vibration levels are logged on to a database. RESULTS: The multivariate analysis of several determining factors shows vibration exposure levels vary depending on the varied work tasks being carried out. CONCLUSION: This study identifies exposed employees among excavator operators. For each workstation, the determining factors that could explain the high exposures to vibrations are identified. This work shows the important role of tasks on exposure levels. A better adaptation of the tools used to carry out work tasks would allow a decrease in the vibration level of this type of machine.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Wijnen ◽  
Els Gheldof ◽  
J. Bart Staal ◽  
Jan Vinck

The role of physical strain, psychosocial and psychological factors in relation to temporary and long-lasting lower back pain and sick leave in an occupational setting The role of physical strain, psychosocial and psychological factors in relation to temporary and long-lasting lower back pain and sick leave in an occupational setting Ellen Wijnen, Els Gheldof, J. Bart Staal & Jan Vinck, Gedrag & Organisatie, Volume 18, February 2005, nr. 1, pp. 32-46 This cross-sectional study examines a number of work related physical, psychosocial and psychological correlates of temporary and long-lasting lower back pain and sick leave among 712 employees of a Belgian metallurgical plant. Associations have been studied through multiple logistic regressions, while controlling for relevant confounders. The main conclusion is that physical strain is related to temporary lower back pain, and that physical strain and psychosocial factors such as job demands, power of decision and social support are associated with long-lasting lower back pain. A remarkable finding is that a lack of power of decision and a high level of fear of movement are significantly related to sick leave. Finally, the results show that the variables psychological job demands and power of decision clearly interact in their effect on sick leave.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-226
Author(s):  
Marcia Regina da Silva ◽  
Lucimare Ferraz ◽  
Fátima Ferretti ◽  
Cristiane Sfredo

Abstract Introduction: Flexibility is an essential component of physical aptitude that reduces the incidence of muscle distention and improves movement efficiency and posture. Objective: To analyze posterior chain flexibility and lower back pain (LBP) in farm workers from a city in western Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Methods: Quantitative and cross-sectional study conducted with 185 rural workers, average age of 44.24 (±10.83) years. The Rural Worker Health Questionnaire, containing individual issues related to work; sit and reach box, goniometer, visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry and Roland-Morris questionnaires were used to evaluate posterior chain flexibility, hamstring muscle length, pain and lumbar spine dysfunction, respectively. Flexibility was compared with the degree of dysfunction using one-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test. Results: 181 (97.8%) workers reported LBP symptoms: 100% of the women and 95.2% of the men. The average Oswestry score was 7.09 (±8.25), Roland-Morris 1.22 (±1.63), and VAS 5.81 (±2.5). Average flexibility by the sit and reach test (SRT) was 23.91cm (±18.81); straight leg raise (SLR), 66° (±11.77) and popliteal angle 123.21° (±12.45). There was a significant difference in the popliteal angle (p = 0.003) and SLR (0.001) when compared with the degree of dysfunction. Women showed significant differences in all tests; however, the post hoc test showed a significant difference only in the SRT (p = 0.013), and women with minimal dysfunction had greater flexibility in relation to those with severe dysfunction. Conclusion: Self-reported LBP was severe and women with higher levels of dysfunction exhibited less posterior chain flexibility.


2020 ◽  
Vol 250 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshihiro Hagiwara ◽  
Yutaka Yabe ◽  
Takuya Sekiguchi ◽  
Haruki Momma ◽  
Masahiro Tsuchiya ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Carey ◽  
Heidi Turon ◽  
Stacy Goergen ◽  
Rob Sanson-Fisher ◽  
Sze Lin Yoong ◽  
...  

Lower back pain is prevalent in the general community. Guidelines recommend against the use of diagnostic imaging unless ‘red flags’ are present that may indicate a potentially serious cause. This paper reports on a cross-sectional electronic survey to investigate self-reported experiences of lower back pain management among Australian general practice patients. Of the 872 participants, 551 (63%) reported that they had experienced lower back pain in the past 12 months. Approximately 40% of patients who had experienced lower back pain reported that they had consulted their general practitioner (GP) regarding this issue. Among those who sought general practice care, 67% reported being referred for diagnostic imaging. Those who received imaging were more likely to have been prescribed medication by their GP, but received self-management advice at the same rate as those who had not been referred. Rates of self-reported referral for diagnostic imaging were higher than expected, given the low prevalence of potentially serious causes for lower back pain reported in the international literature. However, it remains unclear whether this is due to poor guideline adherence by GPs or lack of specificity in the red flags identified in guidelines. Findings suggest the need for improvements in the provision of evidence-based self-management advice.


Author(s):  
Kamariah Kamariah ◽  
Arifin Arifin ◽  
Gunung Setiadi

Low back pain is one of the musculoskeletal disorders resulting from the wrong ergonomics. Such conditions can occur in the informal work sector, such as clothes tailors at the Martapura Bauntung Batuah Market. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of work position with complaints of lower back pain in clothes tailors at the Bauntung Batuah Market Martapura. This study is an analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique uses total sampling with criteria for male sex so that the number of samples is 43 people. Data will be analyzed using the x2 test (Chi-square). The results of the statistical analysis obtained the value of the work position p-value of 0,000 meaning that there is a relationship between the work position and complaints of lower back pain in the clothes tailor at the Martapura Bauntung Batuah Market. For other researchers, further research needs to being done on other factors such as individual factors and physical environmental factors that can cause complaints of lower back pain.


Author(s):  
Madiha Ijaz ◽  
Muhammad Akram ◽  
Sajid Rashid Ahmad ◽  
Kamran Mirza ◽  
Falaq Ali Nadeem ◽  
...  

There is not enough data available on occupational health and safety issues of underground coal miners in Pakistan. This study focuses on spinal disorders in association with personal and occupational factors. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for a cross-sectional study of 260 workers of 20 mines located in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan. Regression models were created for upper back pain and lower back pain of workers whose mean age is 19.8 years (±SD 1.47). Results identify the coal cutting as the most harmful work with odds ratios (ORs) 13.06 (95% confidence interval (CI) 13.7–21.5) for lower back pain and 11.2 (95% CI 3.5–19.4) for upper back pain in participants. Those with greater years of work experience had higher odds of upper back pain (2.4, 95% CI 1.4–3.5) and lower back pain (3.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.4). Number of repetitions (mean value 25.85/minute with ±SD 9.48) are also significant for spinal disorder with ORs of 4.3 (95% CI 3.2–7.4) for lower back and 1.3 (95% CI 1.0–2.4) for upper back. Many other occupational and personal factors are positively associated with the back pain in underground coal mines workers, requiring immediate ergonomic intervention.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 2773-2776
Author(s):  
Parveen Shafi ◽  
Rahim Khan ◽  
Tariq Ahmad ◽  
Syed Alam Zeb ◽  
Ahsan Sajjad

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of lower back pain in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. Study Design: Cross sectional study Place and Duration: Mardan Medical Complex/BKMC, Tahseel Headquarter Hospital, Takht Bhai Mardan, Swabi Medical Complex /GKMC, from October 2019 to October 2021. Methods: Total 160 pregnant women were presented in this study. Patients were aged between 18-45 years. Detailed demographics of enrolled cases age, body mass index, gestational age, and residency and education status were calculated after taking informed written consent. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I had 80 patients with pre-eclampsia and group II had 80 patients with normotensive. Gravidity among both groups was assessed. Symptoms and prevalence of lower back pain among both groups were assessed and compared. Complete data was analyzed by SPSS 22.0 version. Results: Mean age of the patients in group I was 27.09±5.66 years with mean gestational age 33.14±7.41 weeks while in group II mean age was 26.55±8.26 years with mean gestational age 32.47±8.33 weeks. Thirty seven patients (46.3%) in group I was primigravida and 40 (50%) in group II was primigravida. Thirty nine patients (48.8%) had urban residency in group I and in group II thirty seven (46.3%) cases were from urban area. Frequency of literacy among both groups were 42 (52.5%) and 44 (55%). Prevalence of lower back pain in group I was 55 (68.8%) higher as compared to group II 53 (66.3%) with no any significant difference. Domestic work was the most common cause among both groups followed by social work (Job), lifting of heavy object and medication pain. Conclusion: We concluded in this study the prevalence of lower back pain among pregnant women was significantly high among both pre-eclampsia and normotensive cases. Most common causes of lower back among women was domestic work. Health professionals must be proactive in diagnosing LBP and providing proper management due to the enormous impact of it on the quality of life. Keywords: Pregnant Women, Low Back Pain, Prevalence, Symptoms, causes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Zhou ◽  
Kazuhiro Imai ◽  
Xiao-Xuan Liu ◽  
Eiji Watanabe

AbstractPain is common in athletes which should be well managed. To identify risk factors for shoulder pain, and the association between shoulder pain, lower back pain and knee pain among elementary school-aged badminton players, we conducted a cross-sectional study to collect data of the past year among 611 elementary school age (7–12 years old) badminton players belonging to the Japan Schoolchildren Badminton Federation using a questionnaire. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall incidence rate of shoulder injuries, lower back injuries and knee injuries was 0.38 injuries per 1000 h of badminton training. Players with training time per day > 2.5 h were 2.64 times (95% CI 1.03–6.78, p = 0.043) more likely to sustain shoulder pain than those with training time per day ≤ 2.5 h. A significant association was revealed between shoulder pain and knee pain as well as between lower back pain and knee pain as training hours per day > 2.5 h. Moreover, lower back pain was significantly associated with shoulder pain independent of training hours per day (≤ 2.5 h: p = 0.001; > 2.5 h: p < 0.001). These findings indicate that training time per day is risk factor, and shoulder pain, lower back pain and knee pain were associated with each other in elementary school-aged badminton players.


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