Previous history of LBP with work loss is related to lingering deficits in biomechanical, physiological, personal, psychosocial and motor control characteristics

A cross-sectional retrospective study was made of currently asymptomatic workers who perform physically demanding jobs. To further quantify the association between various biomechanical, physiological, personal psychosocial and motor control parameters that linger due to a history of low back disorders. Seventy-two workers were recruited from heavy industry, 26 of whom had a history of disabling low back disorders (LBDs) sufficient to miss work while the others did not. The strength of the study lies in the many detailed variables measured. Having a history of low back disorders was found to be associated with a larger waist girth, a greater potential for low back pain chronicity as predicted from psychosocial questionnaires, perturbed flexion to extension strength and endurance ratios, and widespread motor control deficits across a variety of tasks, some of which resulted in high back loads. In those workers who had missed work due to back disorders, the length of time since their last disabling episode was 261 weeks on average, suggesting that multiple deficits may remain for a period of time. Having a history of LBD is associated with changes in attitudes, in body composition, and in the way people move, load their backs and respond to a variety of motor and stability challenges.

[1]  S. McGill,et al.  Endurance times for low back stabilization exercises: clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. , 1999, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[2]  R. Norman,et al.  A comparison of peak vs cumulative physical work exposure risk factors for the reporting of low back pain in the automotive industry. , 1998, Clinical biomechanics.

[3]  J. Cholewicki,et al.  Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain. , 1996, Clinical biomechanics.

[4]  P. Hodges,et al.  Inefficient Muscular Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine Associated With Low Back Pain: A Motor Control Evaluation of Transversus Abdominis , 1996, Spine.

[5]  J R Leighton.  The Leighton flexometer and flexibility test. , 1966, Journal of the Association for Physical and Mental Rehabilitation.

[6]  A. Burton,et al.  Back Injury and Work Loss: Biomechanical and Psychosocial Influences , 1997, Spine.

[7]  J. Troup,et al.  1987 Volvo Award in Clinical Sciences: The Perception of Back Pain and the Role of Psychophysical Tests of Lifting Capacity , 1987, Spine.

[8]  D. Buchner,et al.  Physical fitness and chronic low back pain. An analysis of the relationships among fitness, functional limitations, and depression. , 1988, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[9]  N. Bogduk,et al.  Resolution of psychological distress of whiplash patients following treatment by radiofrequency neurotomy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial , 1997, Pain.

[10]  J D Troup,et al.  Back Pain in Industry: A Prospective Survey , 1981, Spine.

[11]  J. Durnin,et al.  Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 Years , 1974, British Journal of Nutrition.

[12]  N. Hadler,et al.  Back pain in the workplace. What you lift or how you lift matters far less than whether you lift or when. , 1997, Spine.

[13]  D. Fishbain.  Resolution of psychological distress of whiplash patients following treatment by radiofrequency neurotomy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. , 2000, Pain.

[14]  F. Biering-Sørensen.  Physical measurements as risk indicators for low-back trouble over a one-year period. , 1984, Spine.

[15]  J. Cholewicki,et al.  Impaired Postural Control of the Lumbar Spine Is Associated With Delayed Muscle Response Times in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic Low Back Pain , 2001, Spine.

[16]  W. G. Allread,et al.  The Role of Dynamic Three-Dimensional Trunk Motion in Occupationally-Related Low Back Disorders: The Effects of Workplace Factors, Trunk Position, and Trunk Motion Characteristics on Risk of Injury , 1993, Spine.

[17]  Stuart M. McGill,et al.  Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation , 2002 .

[18]  A. Nachemson,et al.  Newest knowledge of low back pain. A critical look. , 1992, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[19]  T. Mayer,et al.  The Dominant Role of Psychosocial Risk Factors in the Development of Chronic Low Back Pain Disability , 1995, Spine.

[20]  P. Leino.  Does leisure time physical activity prevent low back disorders? A prospective study of metal industry employees. , 1993, Spine.

[21]  S. McGill,et al.  Three-dimensional kinematics and trunk muscle myoelectric activity in the young lumbar spine: a database. , 1998, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[22]  S. McGill,et al.  Loads on spinal tissues during simultaneous lifting and ventilatory challenge. , 1995, Ergonomics.

[23]  G. Daddi.  [Disability prevention]. , 1956, Lotta contro la tubercolosi.

[24]  L D Cady,et al.  Strength and fitness and subsequent back injuries in firefighters. , 1979, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[25]  A. Gamsa.  Is emotional disturbance a precipitator or a consequence of chronic pain? , 1990, Pain.

[26]  Lars Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  The influence of low back pain on muscle activity and coordination during gait: a clinical and experimental study , 1996, Pain.

[27]  V M Haughton,et al.  The relationship between disc degeneration and flexibility of the lumbar spine. , 2001, The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society.

[28]  M. Grabiner,et al.  Decoupling of Bilateral Paraspinal Excitation in Subjects with Low Back Pain , 1992, Spine.

[29]  J. Clarys,et al.  Is ergonomic intervention alone sufficient to limit musculoskeletal problems in nurses? , 1997, Occupational medicine.

[30]  M. Stokes,et al.  Evidence of lumbar multifidus muscle wasting ipsilateral to symptoms in patients with acute/subacute low back pain. , 1994, Spine.

[31]  Joan M. Stevenson,et al.  A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Low Back Pain in an Industrial Population , 1999, Spine.

[32]  M. Sturzenegger,et al.  Relationship between early somatic, radiological, cognitive and psychosocial findings and outcome during a one-year follow-up in 117 patients suffering from common whiplash. , 1994, British journal of rheumatology.

[33]  Cady Ld,et al.  Strength and fitness and subsequent back injuries in firefighters. , 1979, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[34]  W. Fordyce,et al.  A Prospective Study of Work Perceptions and Psychosocial Factors Affecting the Report of Back Injury , 1991, Spine.

[35]  T. Waters,et al.  The Impact of Mental Processing and Pacing on Spine Loading: 2002 Volvo Award in Biomechanics , 2002, Spine.

[36]  H. Aalto,et al.  Psychomotor Speed and Postural Control in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients: A Controlled Follow‐Up Study , 1996, Spine.

[37]  H. Alaranta,et al.  Static back endurance and the risk of low-back pain. , 1995, Clinical biomechanics.

[38]  W. G. Allread,et al.  The Influence of Psychosocial Stress, Gender, and Personality on Mechanical Loading of the Lumbar Spine , 2000, Spine.

[39]  O. Airaksinen,et al.  Movement disturbances of the lumbar spine and abnormal back muscle electromyographic findings in recurrent low back pain. , 1997, Spine.

[40]  J D Troup,et al.  Prediction of Low-Back Trouble Frequency in a Working Population , 1989, Spine.

[41]  Randall B. Dunham,et al.  Personal Control at Work: Its Conceptualization and Measurement. , 1981 .

[42]  B. Falck,et al.  The Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Five Years After Surgery for a Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation , 1993, Spine.

[43]  P. Hodges,et al.  Altered trunk muscle recruitment in people with low back pain with upper limb movement at different speeds. , 1999, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[44]  N. Bogduk,et al.  Reply to Kendall et al., Pain, 73 (1997) 15-22. Resolution of psychological distress of whiplash patients following treatment by radiofrequency neurotomy: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. , 1999, Pain.