Restriction and Pain during Forward Bending in Concrete Reinforcement Workers

Two hundred and ninety-five male Finnish concrete reinforoement workers, aged 19—64 years and engaged in heavy physical work including prolonged stooping, were clinically examined in a cross-sectional study. Restriction of lumbar flexion was found in 38 % of the men, and pain during forward bending...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Environment ＆ Health, 1978-01, Vol.4 (1), p.29-38
Main Authors: WICKSTRÖM, GUSTAV, NUMMI, JUHANI, NURMINEN, MARKKU
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Factors
Age groups
Back Pain - epidemiology
Back Pain - etiology
Bending
Human back
Humans
Intervertebral disk degeneration
Linear models
Low back pain
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Medicine
Pain
Posture
Radiology
Sciatica
Sciatica - epidemiology
Stress, Physiological
Symptoms
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Summary:Two hundred and ninety-five male Finnish concrete reinforoement workers, aged 19—64 years and engaged in heavy physical work including prolonged stooping, were clinically examined in a cross-sectional study. Restriction of lumbar flexion was found in 38 % of the men, and pain during forward bending in 19 %. Restriction of lumbar flexion was strongly related to age, while pain during forward bending showed a weaker association. A history of sciatica was more common in the men with restriction during forward bending (χ² = 6.0, p < 0.05) and in the men with pain during forward bending (χ² = 17.2, p < 0.001) than in the men without. Restricted lumbar flexion was related to diminished back muscle performance capacity (χ² = 18.7, p < 0.001) and straight abdominal muscle performance capacity (χ² = 28.0, p < 0.001). Pain during forward bending was also related to diminished back muscle (χ² = 25.3, p < 0.001) and straight abdominal muscle (χ² = 21.2, p < 0.001) performance capacity. The prevalence of radiologically detectable lumbar disc degeneration was associated with restricted lumbar flexion (χ² = 20.2, p < 0.001). Comparison of the occurrence of restricted lumbar flexion and pain during forward bending to length of reinforcement work experience showed no relation after adjustment for age. When reinforcement workers were compared to computer technicians, restricted lumbar flexion was equally common in both groups, while the occurrence of pain during forward bending was more common among reinforcement workers (χ² = 8.6, p < 0.01).
ISSN:0355-3140
1795-990X
DOI:10.5271/sjweh.2766