An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain (1986–1997)

Abstract The aim of this study is to update the information on the epidemiologic evidence of the adverse health effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on the spinal system by means of a review of the epidemiologic studies published between 1986 and 1997. In a systematic search, using several databases, of epidemiologic studies of low back pain (LBP) disorders and occupations with exposure to WBV, 45 articles were retrieved. The quality of each study was evaluated according to criteria concerning the assessment of vibration exposure, assessment of health effects, and methodology. The epidemiologic studies reaching an adequate score on each of the above-mentioned criteria were included in the final review. A meta-analysis was also conducted in order to combine the results of independent epidemiologic studies. After applying the selection criteria, 17 articles reporting the occurrence of LBP disorders in 22 WBV-exposed occupational groups reached a sufficient score. The study design was cross-sectional for 13 occupational groups, longitudinal for four groups and of case-control type for one group. Two studies included both cross-sectional and follow-up data on the occurrence of LBP disorders in four occupational groups. The main reasons for the exclusion of studies were insufficient quantitative information on WBV exposure and the lack of control groups. The findings of the selected studies and the results of the meta-analysis of both cross-sectional and cohort studies showed that occupational exposure to WBV is associated with an increased risk for LBP, sciatic pain, and degenerative changes in the spinal system, including lumbar intervertebral disc disorders. Owing to the cross-sectional design of the majority of the reviewed studies, this epidemiologic evidence is not sufficient to outline a clear exposure-response relationship between WBV exposure and LBP disorders. Comparing the epidemiologic studies included in this review with those conducted before 1986, it is concluded that research design and the quality of exposure and health effect data in the field of WBV have improved in the last decade.

[1]  E Viikari-Juntura,et al.  Incidence of sciatic pain among men in machine operating, dynamic physical work, and sedentary work. A three-year follow-up. , 1994, Spine.

[2]  D. Coggon,et al.  Interaction of height and mechanical loading of the spine in the development of low-back pain. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[3]  Carel T. J. Hulshof,et al.  Back disorders in crane operators exposed to whole-body vibration , 1988, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[4]  N. Laird,et al.  Meta-analysis in clinical trials. , 1986, Controlled clinical trials.

[5]  M. Heliövaara,et al.  Occupation and risk of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc or sciatica leading to hospitalization. , 1987, Journal of chronic diseases.

[6]  H Seidel,et al.  Selected health risks caused by long-term, whole-body vibration. , 1993, American journal of industrial medicine.

[7]  J Malchaire,et al.  Low back pain. Epidemiologic aspects and work-related factors in the steel industry. , 1994, Spine.

[8]  D G Wilder,et al.  The biomechanics of vibration and low back pain. , 1993, American journal of industrial medicine.

[9]  A. Burdorf,et al.  Positive and negative evidence of risk factors for back disorders. , 1997, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[10]  Paulien M. Bongers,et al.  Long-term sickness absence due to back disorders in crane operators exposed to whole-body vibration , 1988, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[11]  J M Fisher,et al.  Physical Workload and Ergonomic Factors Associated With Prevalence of Back and Neck Pain in Urban Transit Operators , 1997, Spine.

[12]  K Miyashita,et al.  Symptoms of contruction workers exposed to whole body vibration and local vibration , 1992, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[13]  B. Netterstrøm,et al.  Low Back Trouble Among Urban Bus Drivers in Denmark , 1989, Scandinavian journal of social medicine.

[14]  A. Leclerc,et al.  Low-back pain in commercial travelers. , 1992, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[15]  J. Kelsey,et al.  Driving of motor vehicles as a risk factor for acute herniated lumbar intervertebral disc. , 1975, American journal of epidemiology.

[16]  C. Mathias,et al.  The prevalence of back pain, hand discomfort, and dermatitis in the US working population. , 1994, American journal of public health.

[17]  Y. Xu,et al.  Work environment and low back pain: the influence of occupational activities. , 1997, Occupational and environmental medicine.

[18]  F. Biering-Sørensen,et al.  Effect of fork-lift truck driving on low-back trouble. , 1987, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[19]  G Govaert,et al.  Postural load and back pain of workers in the manufacturing of prefabricated concrete elements. , 1991, Ergonomics.

[20]  P M Bongers,et al.  Long-term sick leave and disability pensioning due to back disorders of tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration , 1990, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[21]  Kazushi Taoda,et al.  A DECADE OF IMPROVEMENT IN WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION AND LOW BACK PAIN FOR FREIGHT CONTAINER TRACTOR DRIVERS , 1998 .

[22]  A Burdorf,et al.  An epidemiological study of low-back pain in crane operators. , 1990, Ergonomics.

[23]  D Coggon,et al.  Occupational causes of low-back pain. , 1989, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[24]  V Putz-Anderson,et al.  Back pain among workers in the United States: national estimates and workers at high risk. , 1995, American journal of industrial medicine.

[25]  D G Wilder,et al.  Epidemiological and aetiological aspects of low back pain in vibration environments - an update. , 1996, Clinical biomechanics.

[26]  J. Fleiss,et al.  Meta-analysis in epidemiology, with special reference to studies of the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer: a critique. , 1991, Journal of clinical epidemiology.

[27]  P M Bongers,et al.  Self‐Reported Back Pain in Fork‐Lift Truck and Freight‐Container Tractor Drivers Exposed to Whole‐Body Vibration , 1992, Spine.

[28]  A Burdorf,et al.  Occupational risk factors for low back pain among sedentary workers. , 1993, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[29]  M. Bovenzi,et al.  Self‐Reported Low Back Symptoms in Urban Bus Drivers Exposed to Whole‐Body Vibration , 1992, Spine.

[30]  M. J. Griffin,et al.  Labor of freight-container tractor drivers and low back pain: M. Nakata and K. Nishiyama 1986 Japanese Journal of Industrial Health 28, 341–351. (11 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables, 21 references) (in Japanese) , 1988 .

[31]  L M Bouter,et al.  Spinal manipulation and mobilisation for back and neck pain: a blinded review. , 1991, BMJ.

[32]  H. Dupuis Medical and occupational preconditions for vibration-induced spinal disorders: occupational disease no. 2110 in Germany , 1994, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[33]  T. Haines,et al.  Long-term back problems and physical work exposures in the 1990 Ontario Health Survey. , 1996, American journal of public health.

[34]  B. Jonsson,et al.  Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. , 1987, Applied ergonomics.

[35]  Michael J. Griffin,et al.  Handbook of Human Vibration , 1990 .

[36]  D G Wilder,et al.  Are Occupational Drivers at an Increased Risk for Developing Musculoskeletal Disorders? , 1996, Spine.

[37]  E Johanning,et al.  Back disorders and health problems among subway train operators exposed to whole-body vibration. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[38]  K. Dickersin,et al.  Meta-analysis: state-of-the-science. , 1992, Epidemiologic reviews.

[39]  P M Bongers,et al.  Back pain and exposure to whole body vibration in helicopter pilots. , 1990, Ergonomics.

[40]  W E van der Weide,et al.  Vocational outcome of intervention for low-back pain. , 1997, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[41]  P M Bongers,et al.  Self-reported back pain in tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration , 1990, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[42]  Carel Hulshof,et al.  Whole-body vibration and low-back pain , 1987, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[43]  V. H. Hildebrandt,et al.  Back pain in the working population: prevalence rates in Dutch trades and professions. , 1995, Ergonomics.

[44]  H. Dupuis,et al.  DOSE-RESPONSE Relationships Between Whole-Body Vibration and Lumbar Disk DISEASE—A Field Study on 388 Drivers of Different Vehicles , 1998 .

[45]  S Tola,et al.  Low-Back Pain and Occupation: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study of Men in Machine Operating, Dynamic Physical Work, and Sedentary Work , 1989, Spine.

[46]  M. Bovenzi Low back pain disorders and exposure to whole-body vibration in the workplace. , 1996, Seminars in Perinatology.

[47]  M Bovenzi,et al.  Low-back disorders in agricultural tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration and postural stress. , 1994, Applied ergonomics.

[48]  M. Nakata [Labor of freight-container tractor drivers and low-back pain. Characteristics of the low-back pain through clinical findings]. , 1987, Sangyo igaku. Japanese journal of industrial health.