Smoking, no-exercise, overweight and low back disorder in welders and nurses

Abstract

Low back disorder is related to physical workload, genetic disposition, personal traits and habits. Not all risk factors can be controlled. Preventative programs frequently focus on workload, organizational and psychophysical issues. Smoking, no-exercise, and overweight generally receive less attention. This study assessed the association between smoking, no-exercise, and overweight and low back disorder in welders and nurses. A retrospective epidemiological study and a questionnaire survey were conducted. The records of injuries were examined and 111 workers (64 welders and 47 nurses) from a steel company and a hospital completed a questionnaire on their personal traits, life style and occupational factors. The annual and lifetime rates of work-related low back disorder were, respectively, 3.4% and 58% of the sample, and the point prevalence of low back pain was 27% of the sample. The low back discomfort score was 5 (SD=3) on a 10-point scale. Forty percent of the workers smoked and 49% did not exercise regularly. The lifetime rate of low back disorder was 86% (odds ratio of 2) for the workers that smoked and did not exercise, and 66% (odds ratio of 1.38) for the overweight workers. This study shows that low back disorder is common among welders and nurses. These workers have high low back discomfort by the end of the shift. Besides the recognized biomechanical factors, smoking, no-exercise, and overweight are personal factors related to low back disorder. Thus, low back disorder preventative programs in industry should include smoking cessation, regular physical activity campaigns, and healthy eating promotion. Précis This study evaluated smoking, no-exercise, and overweight as possible risk factors for low back disorder in welders and nurses. A questionnaire was responded to 111 workers. The results showed that no-exercise, smoking, and overweight increased the risk of having low back disorder.