Positive and negative evidence of risk factors for back disorders

Low back disorders continue to be the most common and significant work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the US. Identifying what constitutes a “safe” physical workload has been the biggest challenge facing injury prevention efforts. Prior low back injury risk models have focused on manufacturing activities where there is limited variability in the parameters used to describe the exposures to low back disorder risk factors. Lifting tasks in distribution centers can have considerably more variability in load and physical layout. The goal of this project was to identify and quantify measures that characterize the biomechanical risk factors, including measures of the load moment exposure, and measures that characterize the duty cycle that are predictive of low back disorders in distribution centers. Thus, our hypothesis was that we could define a relationship between moment exposure parameters and the low back disorder incidence rates. A cross-sectional study was designed to examine the mechanical risk factors responsible for reported low back injury in distributions centers. The physical exposure was measured on 195 workers on 50 jobs in 21 distribution centers using a sonic-based Moment Exposure Tracking System (METS). The METS measures load, force, load moment, torso kinematics, and temporal parameters of the job simultaneously. For each job, low back injury rates were collected retrospectively from the company's records over the prior 3-year period. The data were used to develop a risk model designed to predict back injury risk based upon direct measures of load and load moment exposure. The model incorporates biomechanical variables which include the load moment and horizontal sliding forces, as well as a temporal variable indicating the opportunity for micro-breaks during the work process. Overall, the presented model has very good sensitivity (87%) and specificity (73%).

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Evaluation of biomechanical risk factors for neck and back disorders in traditional bakers during a work-day: Implications for ergonomics intervention

Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health ◽

10.1080/19338244.2020.1783504 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Leila Joudakinia ◽

Davood Afshari ◽

Amal Saki ◽

Abdolhosein Bigdeli

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Back Disorders

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Postpartum depression: we know the risks, can it be prevented?

Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1590/s1516-44462005000600005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 27 (suppl 2) ◽

pp. s56-s64 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dawn Zinga ◽

Shauna Dae Phillips ◽

Leslie Born

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ◽

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Negative Evidence ◽

Mood Change ◽

Interpersonal Therapy ◽

The Past ◽

Cognitive Behavioural ◽

Mother And Child

In the past 20 years, there has been increasing recognition that for some women, pregnancy may be burdened with mood problems, in particular depression, that may impact both mother and child. With identification of risk factors for postpartum depression and a growing knowledge about a biologic vulnerability for mood change following delivery, research has accumulated on attempts to prevent postpartum depression using various psychosocial, psychopharmacologic, and hormonal strategies. The majority of psychosocial and hormonal strategies have shown little effect on postpartum depression. Notwithstanding, results from preliminary trials of interpersonal therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and antidepressants indicate that these strategies may be of benefit. Information on prevention of postpartum depression using dietary supplements is sparse and the available evidence is inconclusive. Although a few studies show promising results, more rigorous trials are required. The abounding negative evidence in the literature indicates that postpartum depression cannot be easily prevented, yet.

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