A systematic review of the relation between physical capacity and future low back and neck/shoulder pain

Abstract The results of longitudinal studies reporting on the relation between physical capacity and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders have never been reviewed in a systematic way. The objective of the present systematic review is to investigate if there is evidence that low muscle strength, low muscle endurance, or reduced spinal mobility are predictors of future low back or neck/shoulder pain. Abstracts found by electronic databases were checked on several inclusion criteria. Two reviewers separately evaluated the quality of the studies. Based on the quality and the consistency of the results of the included studies, three levels of evidence were constructed. The results of 26 prospective cohort studies were summarized, of which 24 reported on the longitudinal relationship between physical capacity measures and the risk of low back pain and only three studies reported on the longitudinal relationship between physical capacity measures and the risk of neck/shoulder pain. We found strong evidence that there is no relationship between trunk muscle endurance and the risk of low back pain. Furthermore, due to inconsistent results in multiple studies, we found inconclusive evidence for a relationship between trunk muscle strength, or mobility of the lumbar spine and the risk of low back pain. Finally, due to a limited number of studies, we found inconclusive evidence for a relationship between physical capacity measures and the risk of neck/shoulder pain. Due to heterogeneity, the results of this systematic review have to be interpreted with caution.

[1]  M. Adams,et al.  Personal risk factors for first-time low back pain. , 1999, Spine.

[2]  G Hedberg,et al.  Development of muscular endurance and strength from adolescence to adulthood and level of physical capacity in men and women at the age of 34 years , 1996, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[3]  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.

[4]  Risk indicators for low back trouble. , 1989, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[5]  K Nakamura,et al.  Trunk muscle weakness as a risk factor for low back pain. A 5-year prospective study. , 1999, Spine.

[6]  J. Malchaire,et al.  Relation Between Functional Characteristics of the Trunk and the Occurrence of Low Back Pain: Associated Risk Factors , 1998, Spine.

[7]  W. E. Hoogendoorn,et al.  Physical load during work and leisure time as risk factors for back pain. , 1999, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[8]  P M Bongers,et al.  Physical risk factors for neck pain. , 2000, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[9]  S. Boden,et al.  Physical function measurements in neck pain. , 2003, Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America.

[10]  M. Battié,et al.  Isokinetic and psychophysical lifting strength, static back muscle endurance, and magnetic resonance imaging of the paraspinal muscles as predictors of low back pain in men. , 1997, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[11]  Simo Taimela,et al.  Physical loading and performance as predictors of back pain in healthy adults A 5-year prospective study , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[12]  G. Waddell,et al.  Trunk strength testing with iso-machines. Part 2: Experimental evaluation of the Cybex II Back Testing System in normal subjects and patients with chronic low back pain. , 1993, Spine.

[13]  W. Assendelft,et al.  Behavioral Treatment for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review Within the Framework of the Cochrane Back Review Group , 2000, Spine.

[14]  G. Harbin,et al.  Post-offer, pre-placement testing in industry. , 2005, American journal of industrial medicine.

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

[16]  E. Viikari-Juntura,et al.  Do Functional Tests Predict Low Back Pain? , 2000, Spine.

[17]  D B Chaffin,et al.  A longitudinal study of low-back pain as associated with occupational weight lifting factors. , 1973, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[18]  A. Silman,et al.  Occupational risk factors for shoulder pain: a systematic review , 2000, Occupational and environmental medicine.

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

[20]  S. Linton,et al.  Preventive Interventions for Back and Neck Pain Problems: What is the Evidence? , 2001, Spine.

[21]  Dueker Ja,et al.  Isokinetic trunk testing and employment. , 1994 .

[22]  W. M. Keyserling,et al.  Preemployment strength testing: an updated position. , 1978, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[23]  D. Spengler,et al.  The Role of Spinal Flexibility in Back Pain Complaints within Industry: A Prospective Study , 1990, Spine.

[24]  G Wickström,et al.  Predictors of sciatic pain among concrete reinforcement workers and house painters--a five-year follow-up. , 1989, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[25]  R. Mostardi,et al.  Isokinetic Lifting Strength and Occupational Injury: A Prospective Study , 1992, Spine.

[26]  Allard J van der Beek,et al.  Gender differences in the relations between work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors and musculoskeletal complaints. , 2004, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[27]  P Latikka,et al.  Correlations of isokinetic and psychophysical back lift and static back extensor endurance tests in men. , 1995, Clinical biomechanics.

[28]  S. Linton.  Occupational Psychological Factors Increase the Risk for Back Pain: A Systematic Review , 2001, Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation.

[29]  Alex Burdorf,et al.  Model for the work-relatedness of low-back pain. , 2003, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health.

[30]  P. Griffiths,et al.  A longitudinal study of low back pain in student nurses. , 1993, International journal of nursing studies.

[31]  P. Hodges,et al.  Hip Strategy for Balance Control in Quiet Standing Is Reduced in People With Low Back Pain , 2004, Spine.

[32]  W. E. Hoogendoorn,et al.  Systematic Review of Psychosocial Factors at Work and Private Life as Risk Factors for Back Pain , 2000, Spine.

[33]  Thomas Läubli,et al.  Measures of low back function: a review of reproducibility studies. , 2002, Clinical biomechanics.

[34]  D. Howell,et al.  Musculoskeletal profile and incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in lightweight women rowers , 1984, The American journal of sports medicine.

[35]  Paul W. Hodges,et al.  Changes in motor planning of feedforward postural responses of the trunk muscles in low back pain , 2001, Experimental Brain Research.

[36]  A. Reunanen,et al.  Does good trunk extensor performance protect against back-related work disability? , 2002, Journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[37]  A. Ready,et al.  Fitness and Lifestyle Parameters Fail to Predict Back Injuries in Nurses , 1993 .

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

[39]  G. Cardon,et al.  How to prevent low back pain. , 2005, Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology.

[40]  G E Hedberg,et al.  Determinants of Self‐Reported Neck‐Shoulder and Low Back Symptoms in a General Population , 1998, Spine.

[41]  R. D. de Bie,et al.  ICF Core Sets for low back pain. , 2004, Journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[42]  P M Bongers,et al.  Psychosocial risk factors for neck pain: a systematic review. , 2001, American journal of industrial medicine.

[43]  Alan J. Silman.  Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace, Commission on Behavioural and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. Musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace: low back and upper extremities , 2003 .

[44]  H. Vanharanta,et al.  +Gz-related neck pain: a follow-up study. , 1994, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine.

[45]  T. Mayer,et al.  Use of noninvasive techniques for quantification of spinal range-of-motion in normal subjects and chronic low-back dysfunction patients. , 1984, Spine.

[46]  M Hagberg,et al.  Self‐Reported Physical Exertion in Geriatric Care: A Risk Indicator for Low Back Symptoms? , 1996, Spine.

[47]  B Nordgren,et al.  Reduced mobility in the cervico-thoracic motion segment--a risk factor for musculoskeletal neck-shoulder pain: a two-year prospective follow-up study. , 1997, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[48]  Paulien M Bongers,et al.  Are psychosocial factors, risk factors for symptoms and signs of the shoulder, elbow, or hand/wrist?: A review of the epidemiological literature. , 2002, American journal of industrial medicine.

[49]  D. Chaffin.  Human strength capability and low-back pain. , 1974, Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association.

[50]  S J Linton,et al.  A review of psychological risk factors in back and neck pain. , 2000, Spine.

[51]  S. Aro,et al.  Trunk muscle function and low back disorders: a ten-year follow-up study. , 1987, Journal of chronic diseases.

[52]  V. Mooney,et al.  Relationship of Lumbar Strength in Shipyard Workers to Workplace Injury Claims , 1996, Spine.

[53]  H. Alaranta,et al.  Flexibility of the spine: normative values of goniometric and tape measurements. , 1994, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[54]  J Malchaire,et al.  Review of the factors associated with musculoskeletal problems in epidemiological studies , 2001, International archives of occupational and environmental health.

[55]  L. Fisher,et al.  Isometric Lifting Strength As a Predictor of Industrial Back Pain Reports , 1989, Spine.

[56]  J D Troup,et al.  Tests of lifting and handling capacity. Their repeatability and relationship to back symptoms. , 1984, Ergonomics.