Low back pain in workers. Occupational risk and related variables

Abstract

IntroductionLow back pain is a prevalent condition with health, social and occupational impact. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of social and occupational factors on worker patients with low back pain. MethodA descriptive study was conducted on 349 subjects with low back pain. The main independent variable was being a manual or non-manual worker. Other social-occupational and lifestyle variables were also considered. The level of disability was established according to the Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire, and the association between the type of job and the test was evaluated using multiple linear regressions. ResultsManual workers are heavier smokers (47%), experience more pain (74.3%), have a lower economic status (89.3%), use more drugs (57.7%), have limitations in walking (17.5%) and standing (25.6%), used carrying protocols (85.5%), make repetitive movements (77.4%). They made trunk (52.6%) and upper limb movements (24.8%), and received less prevention training (51.7%), but used low back protection (19.6%).The non-manual workers had greater limitation in handling loads (37.4%) and sitting (43.5%), and computer screen user protocols were applied (94.8%), and had a lower social class classification (57.1 low-middle class).Performing manual tasks at work is significantly associated with an increase of 2 points in the Oswestry test compared to non-manual workers, when adjusted for age and gender (coefficient β: 2, 95% CI: 0.6–3.36). ConclusionLow back pain is a prevalent condition, with an unfavorable prognosis that has an individual, social, and occupational impact. Performing manual tasks is associated with an increase in the disability scale, regardless of age and gender.