Abstract
A survey of 438 documented cases of low back pain occurring in 4735 RAF ground trades personnel showed that the distribution of the symptom varied directly with severity of the job in terms of prevalence, sickness absence, restricted employment and use of medical services. In the latter case, all prescriptions seemed to have an equal chance of success in the acute phase, but there was little predictive effect on frequency or duration of further episodes. Whilst the study showed a noticeable degree of low back impairment, there was minimal low back disability: the severity rate for restricted employment being as much as 20 times greater than that for sickness absence. Indeed, availabilty of the former seemed more important than sickness absence in determining the prospects for continued employment, and demonstrated how the linkage of occupational and primary medical care had played a part in reducing the impact of the problem.
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