Abstract
This study examines demographic, physical and psychosocial factors associated with an increase in low back pain (LBP) during a one-hour standing task. A cross-sectional survey with 40 office workers was conducted. The primary outcome was pain severity during a one-hour standing task recorded every 15 min using a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants were defined as pain developers (PD), if they reported a change in pain of ≥10 mm from baseline, or non-pain developers (NPD). Physical outcomes included participant-rated and examiner-rated trunk and hip motor control and endurance. Self-report history of LBP, physical activity, psychosocial job characteristics, general health and pain catastrophising were collected. Fourteen participants were PD. Hip abduction, abdominal and spinal muscle endurance was lower for PD (p ≤ 0.05). PD had greater self-reported difficulty performing active hip abduction and active straight leg raise tests (p ≤ 0.04). Those reporting a lifetime, 12 month or 7-day history of LBP (p < 0.05) and lower self-reported physical function (p = 0.01) were more likely to develop LBP during the standing task. In conclusion, a history of LBP, reduced trunk and hip muscle endurance and deficits in lumbopelvic/hip motor control may be important to consider in office workers experiencing standing-induced LBP.
Highlights
Low back pain (LBP) is recognised as a serious health concern and is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absenteeism internationally [1]
Regarding workplace factors and the occurrence of LBP, prolonged sitting is commonly cited in the literature, but the available evidence has not confirmed a consistent association between occupational sitting and LBP [3,4]
Our study identified that pain developers (PD) had poorer trunk muscle strength/endurance and greater self-rated difficulty performing an active straight leg raise (ASLR) than non-pain developers (NPD)
Summary
Low back pain (LBP) is recognised as a serious health concern and is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absenteeism internationally [1]. It is a multi-factorial and heterogeneous condition including complex interactions between physical, psychological, social and comorbid health factors that is best explained by a biopsychosocial framework [2]. Office workers spend over two-thirds of their workday seated and this prolonged and uninterrupted sedentary behaviour [5] is a recognised public health concern [6]. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 7104; doi:10.3390/ijerph17197104 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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