Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Non-specific low back pain: occupational or lifestyle consequences?

  • original article
  • Published:
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Background

Nursing occupation was identified as a risk occupation for the development of low back pain (LBP). The aim of our study was to find out how much occupational factors influence the development of LBP in hospital nursing personnel.

Patients and methods

Non-experimental approach with a cross-sectional survey and statistical analysis. Nine hundred questionnaires were distributed among nursing personnel, 663 were returned and 659 (73.2 %) were considered for the analysis. Univariate and multivariate statistics for LBP risk was calculated by the binary logistic regression. The χ2, influence factor, 95 % confidence interval and P value were calculated. Multivariate binary logistic regression was calculated by the Wald method to omit insignificant variables.

Results

Not performing exercises represented the highest risk for the development of LBP (OR 2.8, 95 % CI 1.7–4.4; p < 0.001). The second and third ranked risk factors were frequent manual lifting > 10 kg (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.5–3.8; p < 0.001) and duration of employment ≥ 19 years (OR 2.4, 95 % CI 1.6–3.7; p < 0.001). The fourth ranked risk factor was better physical condition by frequent recreation and sports, which reduced the risk for the development of LBP (OR 0.4, 95 % CI 0.3–0.7; p = 0.001). Work with the computer ≥ 2 h per day as last significant risk factor also reduced the risk for the development of LBP (OR 0.6, 95 % CI 0.4–0.1; p = 0.049).

Conclusion

Risk factors for LBP established in our study (exercises, duration of employment, frequent manual lifting, recreation and sports and work with the computer) are not specifically linked to the working environment of the nursing personnel. Rather than focusing on mechanical causes and direct workload in the development of non-specific LBP, the complex approach to LBP including genetics, psychosocial environment, lifestyle and quality of life is coming more to the fore.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Airaksinen O, Brox JI, Cedraschi C, et al. European guidelines for the management of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Eur Spine J. 2006;15(2):192–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. ML Ferreira, G Machado, J Latimer, C Maher, PH Ferreira, RJ Smeets. Factors defining care-seeking in low back pain—a meta-analysis of population based surveys. Eur J Pain. 2010;14:747e1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Balagué FB, Mannion AF, Pellisé F, Cedraschi C. Non-specific low back pain. Lancet. 2012;379(9814):482–91. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60610-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Goldman RH, Jarrard MR, Kim R, Loomis S, Atkins EH. Prioritizing back injury risk in hospital employees: application and comparison of different injury rates. J Occup Environ Med. 2000;42(6):645–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Elford W, Straker L, Strauss G. Patient handling with and without slings: an analysis of the risk of injury to the lumbar spine. Appl Ergon. 2000;31(2):185–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Daynard D, Yassi A, Cooper JE, Tate R., Norman R, Wells R. Biomechanical analysis of peak and cumulative spinal loads during simulated patient-handling activities: a substudy of a randomized controlled trial to prevent lift and transfer injury of health care workers. Appl Ergon. 2001;32(3):199–214.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Retsas A, Pinikahaba J. Manual handling activities and injuries among nurses: an Australian hospital study. J Adv Nurs. 2000;31(4):874–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hansson EK, Hansson TH. The costs for persons sick-listed more than one month because of low back or neck problems. A two-year prospective study of Swedish patients. Eur Spine J. 2005;14(4):337–45.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Collins JW, Wolf L, Bell J, Evanoff B. An evaluation of a “best practices” musculoskeletal injury prevention program in nursing homes. Inj Prev. 2004;10(4):206–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Nelson A, Matz M, Chen F, Siddharthan K, Lloyd J, Fragala G. Development and evaluation of a multifaceted ergonomics program to prevent injuries associated with patient handling tasks. Int J Nurs Stud. 2006;43:717–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Shiri R, Karppinen J, Leino-Arjas P, Solovieva S, Viikari-Juntura E. The association between obesity and low back pain: a meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2010;171:135–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Roffey DM, Wai EK, Bishop P, Kwon BK, Dagenais S. Causal assessment of workplace manual handling or assisting patients and low back pain: results of a systematic review. Spine J. 2010;10:639–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Roffey DM, Wai EK, Bishop P, Kwon BK, Dagenais S. Causal assessment of occupational lifting and low back pain: results of a systematic review. Spine J. 2010;10:554–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Roffey DM, Wai EK, Bishop P, Kwon BK, Dagenais S. Causal assessment of occupational carrying and low back pain: results of a systematic review. Spine J. 2010;10:628–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Feng CK, Chen M-L, Mao I-F. Prevalence of and risk factors for different measures of low back pain among female nursing aides in Taiwanese nursing homes. BMC Musculoskel Disord. 2007;8:52. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-8-52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ando S, Ono Y, Shimaoka M, Hiruta S, Hattori Y, Hori F, Takeuchi Y. Associations of self estimated workloads with musculoskeletal symptoms among hospital nurses. Occup Environ Med. 2000;57(3):211–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Fairbank JCT, Pynsent PB. The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine. 2000;25(22):2940–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Davidson M, Keating JL. A comparison of five low back disability questionnaires: reliability and responsiveness. Phys Ther. 2002;82(1):8–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Trinkoff AM, Lipscomb JA, Geiger-Brown J, Storr CL, Brady BA. Perceived physical demands and reported musculoskeletal problems in registered nurses. Am J Prev Med. 2003;24(3):270–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bot SDM, Terwee CB, van der Windt DAWM, Feleus A, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Knol DL, Bouter LM, Dekker J. Internal consistency and validity of a new physical workload questionnaire. Occup Environ Med. 2004;61(12):980–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Rainville J, Hartigan C, Martinez E, Limke J, Jouve C, Finno M. Exercise as a treatment for chronic low back pain. Spine J. 2004;4(1):106–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Burton AK, Balagué F, Cardon G, Eriksen HR, Henrotin Y, Lahad A, Leclerc A, Müller G, van der Beek AJ. COST B13 working group on european guidelines for prevention in low back pain. How to prevent low back pain. Best Pract Res Cl Rh. 2005;19(4):541–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Rubin DI. Epidemiology and risk factors for spine pain. Neurol Clin. 2007;25(2):353–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Bigos SJ, Holland SJ, Holland C, Webster JS, Battie M, Malmgren JA. High-quality controlled trials on preventing episodes of back problems: systematic literature review in working-age adults. Spine. 2009;9(2):147–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Byrne K, Doody C, Hurley DA. Exercise therapy for low back pain: a small-scale exploratory survey of current physiotherapy practice in the Republic of Ireland acute hospital setting. Manual Ther. 2006;11:272–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Linton SJ, van Tulder MW. Preventive interventions for back and neck pain problems: what is the evidence?. Spine. 2001;26(7):778–87.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Verbunt JA, Smeets RJ, Wittink HM. Cause or effect? Deconditioning and chronic low back pain. Pain. 2010;149:428–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hölzel BK, Carmody J, Vangel M, Congleton C, Yerramsetti SM, Gard T, et al. Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Res. 2011;191(1):36–43

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Ketiš-Klemenc Z, Kersnik J. Outcomes of physical therapy in patients with chronic low back pain. Acta Medico–Biotechnica AMB. 2010;3(2):43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Friedrich M. Evidenz- und konsensusbasierte österreichische Leitlinien für das Manegement akuter und chronischer unspezifischer Kreuzschmerzen. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2007;119(5–6):189–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ketiš-Klemenc Z, Kersnik J. One month prevalence of self–reported musculoskeletal pain syndromes and correlates. Acta Medico–Biotechnica AMB. 2012;5(2):40–6.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nguyen TH, Randolph DC. Nonspecific low back pain and return to work. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(10):1497–502.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Dorner TE, Stronegger WJ, Rebhandl E, Rieder A, Freidl W. The relationship between various psychosocial factors and physical symptoms reported during primary-care health examinations. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2010;122:103–9. doi:10.0007/s00508-010-1312-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

    Jadranka Stričević PhD

  2. Institute of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Clinical Centre Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, SI-2000, Maribor, Slovenija

    Breda Jesenšek Papež MD, PhD

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

    Breda Jesenšek Papež MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Jadranka Stričević PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Breda Jesenšek Papež MD, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Breda Jesenšek Papež MD, PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stričević, J., Papež, B. Non-specific low back pain: occupational or lifestyle consequences?. Wien Klin Wochenschr 127 (Suppl 5), 277–281 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0770-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0770-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation