Physical capacity in relation to low back, neck, or shoulder pain in a working population
conference paper
In this prospective cohort study, 1789 Dutch workers participated. At baseline, isokinetic lifting strength, static endurance of the back, neck, and shoulder muscles, and mobility of the spine were measured, as well as potential confounders, including physical workload. Low back, neck,and shoulder pain were self-reported annually at baseline and three times during follow-up. Poisson GEE showed an increased risk of low back pain among workers in the lowest sex-specific tertile of static back endurance compared to workers in the reference category (risk ratio (RR) 1.42;95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.19-1.71), but this was not found for isokinetic trunk lifting strength, or mobility of the spine. An increased risk of neck pain was shown for workers with low neck/shoulder lifting strength (RR =1.31;95% CI l.03-1.67) and low static neck endurance (RR= l.22; 95% CI 1.00-1.49). Among workers with low lifting strength or low static endurance of the shoulder muscles, no increased risk of shoulder pain was found. The findings of this study suggest that low back or neck endurance were independent predictors of low back or neck pain, respectively, and that low lifting neck/shoulder strength was an independent predictor of neck pain.
TNO Identifier
575321
Publisher
Elsevier
Source title
International Ergonomics Association (IEA) 2006, 16th World Congress on Ergonomics "Meeting diversity in ergonomics", Maastricht, 10-14 July
Editor(s)
Pikaar, R.N.
Koningsveld, E.A.P.
Settels, P.J.M.
Koningsveld, E.A.P.
Settels, P.J.M.
Place of publication
Oxford