Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Back Injuries”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Spinal shrinkage in fast bowling.

The load on the spine during physical activities may be reflected in decreases in stature, referred to as shrinkage. Spinal shrinkage reflects the creep behaviour of the intervertebral discs and vertebral end-plate compression when loaded. This study was concerned with shrinkage induced during practices corresponding to fast bowling in cricket, an activity associated with risk of back injury. Eight cricketers (aged 19-24 years), all free of back pain, acted as subjects. They were first trained for measurement on the stadiometer until 10 consecutive recordings of stature with SD < 0.5 mm could be produced. A 20 min period of standing was used for standardization purposes prior to experimental work which took place indoors between 12:00 and 16:00 hours. The experimental conditions were (i) standing for 30 min; (ii) bowling for 30 min at a rate of once every 30 s from a 14 m run-up; (iii) a run-up (without bowling) of 14 m for 30 min once every 30 s; (iv) inverted at an angle of 50 degrees for 5 min; (v) inverted at an angle of 50 degrees for 5 min prior to bowling once every 30 s for 30 min from a 14 m run-up. These conditions were presented to the subject on five separate days. Stature was not affected by the 30 min standing, used for control purposes (mean shrinkage 0.1 mm). Bowling caused a decrease in stature of 2.30 (+/- 1.58) mm in 30 min (p < 0.05). Stature did not decrease significantly (mean shrinkage 0.29 mm) when only the run-up was performed (p > 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Pain clinic #13. Comprehensive pain center treatment of low back workers' compensation injuries. An industrial medicine clinical outcome follow-up comparison.

A clinical outcome follow-up comparison of treatment and nontreatment groups was conducted to investigate both the clinical and cost effectiveness of a hospital-based industrial medicine division offering inpatient pain treatment clinical services. Eighteen month followup data were collected on 63 patients participating in a pain treatment program and 37 patients referred for treatment but denied participation by their workers' compensation insurance company. Outcome data indicate that the population of workers' compensation low back injured patients participating in pain treatment programs subsequently consumed fewer analgesics, required fewer hospitalizations for additional diagnostics and/or treatment, required fewer additional surgery, and were more likely to return to employment than a comparison group of patients denied comparable treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The management of penetrating injuries of the back. A prospective study of 230 patients.

This is a prospective study of 230 patients with penetrating injuries of the back. The decision to operate or observe was taken exclusively on the abdominal physical findings. One hundred ninety-five patients (85%) did not require operation, 30 (13%) underwent a therapeutic laparotomy, four (1.7%) an unnecessary operation, and one patient (0.4%) had a completely negative laparotomy. The diagnosis and management was delayed in five (2.2%) patients with no serious consequences. Mortality rates were not recorded in this series. The initial physical examination was accurate in 95.2% of the patients. We suggest that penetrating injuries of the back should be assessed in the same way as anterior abdominal injuries. Physical abdominal examination is reliable in detecting significant intra-abdominal injuries.

Abdomen, Acute↗
PubMed2000

Preventing home health nursing assistant back and shoulder injuries.

BACKGROUND: Franklin County Home Health Agency (St Albans, Vermont) undertook a performance improvement project in 1996 to reduce employee injuries. A review of recent injuries led to the prevention of licensed nursing assistants' (LNAs') back and shoulder injuries as the first priority. Root causes of injuries were agency communication, employee training, patient home environment, nursing assistant body mechanics, and failure to use safety measures. Given that injury causality is complex and multifactorial, a variety of improvement strategies were implemented over the following two to three years. IMPLEMENTATION OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS: Short-term (a few months), mid-term (six months), and long-term (one year) potential solutions to the LNA back and shoulder injury problem were charted. Safety and health training was the major focus of the team's short-term plan. Risk management forms were to be used to identify and follow up on hazardous situations. RESULTS: Project plans that were successfully implemented included revision of LNA plans of care, standardization of the return-to-work process after injury, development of guidelines for identifying unsafe patient lifts and transfers, improved follow-up of employee reports of injury-risk situations in patient homes, improved body mechanics screening of new employees, and a stronger injury-prevention training program for current employees. A less successful initiative was aimed at collecting more data about injuries and causal factors. Employee injuries were gradually reduced from 4-10 per quarter to 0-3 per quarter. CONCLUSIONS: Injury prevention requires commitment, persistence, and patience--but not expensive improvements. Multiple interventions increase the chances of success when there are many root causes and lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of various approaches.

Back Injuries↗
PubMed2006

Effect of same-sided and cross-body load carriage on 3D back shape in young adults.

UNLABELLED: Regular carriage of heavy loads such as backpacks, satchels and mailbags results in a variety of acute medical problems and increased potential for back injury. There is a paucity of information about the specific changes in back posture that occur in response to asymmetrical loading. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in back shape that occurred in response to asymmetrical load carriage, either on one shoulder (same-side) or across the body (cross-body), in healthy young adults. METHODS: A convenience sample of 21 physiotherapy students randomly performed three trials (unloaded, same-side loaded, cross-body loaded) in standing with a 15% body load. The Microscribe 3DX digitiser (Immersion Group Ltd) recorded the three dimensional coordinates of 15 Key anatomical landmarks on the back in the three conditions. RESULTS: A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures and post-hoc tests was implemented to highlight statistical differences in the data collected (p<0.05). Significant differences were found in the x, y and z coordinates of the anatomical landmarks in the upper back between unloaded and loaded conditions. Results demonstrated significantly less impact on spinal posture from cross-body loading as compared to same-sided loading. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that there are significant three-dimensional changes in back shape in response to asymmetrical loading. Further work is needed to evaluate the optimal carriage type and maximal body load that results in the least spinal impact and injury potential in young adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Injury occurrence and risk factors in construction engineers and combat artillery soldiers.

OBJECTIVES: This 1-year prospective study compared 125 construction engineers and 188 combat artillery soldiers to determine whether there were differences in injury occurrences/ types because of their diverse occupational tasks and training requirements. Also, intrinsic factors were studied to establish any associations with a soldier's risk for injury. METHODS: Prestudy height, weight, and body mass index and fitness (3.2-km run, sit-ups, push-ups) data were collected prior to the injury medical records review. Approximately 30% of each battalion was studied. RESULTS: For engineers and artillery, 86.0% and 66.0% incurred at least one injury, respectively. Of total soldiers, 64.0% of engineers and 56.4% of artillerymen had injuries associated with limited duty profiles. Total injuries resulted in 743 days of limited duty time (5.9 days per soldier) in engineers and 1,078 days (5.7 days per soldier) in artillery. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. The odds of traumatic fractures were (OR = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.8-23.7) 6 times higher in engineers than artillery, but strains/sprains and abrasions/lacerations were (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.5-3.7; OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.2-5.0) two times higher in artillery than engineers. The number of limited duty days associated with knee injuries was significantly higher in engineers than artillery (p < 0.0001), and number of days for low back injuries was significantly higher in the artillerymen (p < 0.0001). Greater body mass was a risk factor for lower back pain and the body mass index was > or = 25 for strains/sprains in both units. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in injuries were reported between the two units. It is plausible that the differences were related to the diverse training exposures of the units. However, it is beyond the scope of this study to make conclusions about the causes of the injury differences. The data also indicate that body mass and body mass index were identified as modifiable injury risk factors for both units, which suggests that these injuries are preventable.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Factors predicting outcome after whiplash injury in subjects pursuing litigation.

Records of 277 patients presenting for medicolegal reporting following isolated whiplash injury were studied retrospectively. A range of pre-accident, accident and response variables were recorded. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the main factors that predict physical and psychological outcome after whiplash injury. The factors that showed significant association with poor outcome on both physical and psychological outcome scales were pre-injury back pain, high frequency of General Practitioner attendance, evidence of pre-injury depression or anxiety symptoms, front position in the vehicle and pain radiating away from the neck after injury. The strongest associations were with factors that are present before impact. In this selected cohort of patients, there is a physical and a psychological vulnerability that may explain the widely varied response to low violence indirect neck injury.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

Disease and injury among veterinarians.

OBJECTIVE: To identify occupational causes of disease and injury in veterinarians and their staff. DESIGN: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all of the 160 registered veterinary practices in Western Australia. RESULTS: Injuries accounted for most workers' compensation claims over a 12-month period with 31% of respondents losing a total of 360 work days with a mean of 13.3 days whereas non-occupational diseases such as influenza accounted for 408 work days lost. Over a 10-year period, 71% of respondents had been injured. The major physical injuries were dog and cat bites, cat scratches, scalpel blade cuts and back injuries from lifting heavy animals. Exposure to chemicals such as flea rinses, formalin, glutaraldehyde, x-ray developers and gaseous anaesthetics were reported to cause headache, nausea and allergies. Thirty percent of respondents did not have extractor fans for scavenging waste anaesthetic gases. The study showed high use of radiography (94%) for diagnostic purposes with 24% of respondents believing radiation exposure is a major occupational health and safety issue. Stress, drug abuse, suicide and burglary were also reported. Despite a high awareness of zoonotic diseases, there were very few reports of these. CONCLUSION: Injuries and other occupational hazards reported together with work days lost demonstrate a need for improving the working environment of veterinarians and their staff and the development of comprehensive health and safety programs.

Animal Technicians↗
PubMed1997

Back pain among echocardiographers.

OBJECTIVE: By having to adopt unnatural postures, echocardiographers place themselves at risk of back injury. The present study sought to document the incidence and severity of back pain among echocardiographers, and to identify personal, lifestyle and occupational characteristics that may predict risk of back pain. DESIGN: A questionnaire concerning occupational, personal, and lifestyle characteristics, as well as the extent and severity of back pain was completed and returned by 183 echocardiographers. RESULTS: The standard echocardiography examination position of "machine on the left, patient on the right, and transducer held in the right hand" (used by 66% of respondents) greatly increased the risk of back pain (odds ratio (OR) = 4.9; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.49-16.4). Echocardiographers with more than 11 years experience in the field were also at risk of back pain (OR) = 3.4; 95% CI = 0.97-11.6). The intensity of back pain was strongly associated with the amount of time spent on echocardiography examinations (P = 0.035), limitation of lifestyle (P < or = 0.001), and interference with work (P < or = 0.001). There was a significantly higher relative risk of back pain for the respondents whose job involved frequent or occasional lifting compared with nonlifters (P = 0.01; OR = 4.8, 95% CI = 1.25-18.7). At least some limitation of lifestyle from back pain was reported by 56% of the respondents. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of back pain among echocardiographers, and specific tasks and activities increase the risk of back pain. Further research should focus on preventative measures and optimum work station designs that may serve as a guide to echocardiography departments.

Back Pain↗
PubMed2004

Pharmacotherapy in lower back pain.

In the US, back pain is the second most common cause of disability and the leading cause among men, with approximately 45% of the adult population experiencing lower back pain annually and a direct cost for diagnosis and treatment reported to be higher than 23 billion US dollars in 1990. However, despite the high prevalence of this condition, lower back pain diagnoses are commonly imprecise, and specific causes for lower back pain can only be determined in approximately 15% of patients. So, although for most patients with acute lower back pain, a simple cause-and-effect model can be described, often the result of a lumbar sprain or strain, clinicians must be alert to a variety of other conditions which may present in a similar fashion and require more emergent care. Pharmacotherapy and nondrug-related modalities have been shown to reduce pain and other related symptoms. Medication classes with known benefit include the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), skeletal muscle relaxants, opioids, acetaminophen and the newer cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. This review analyzes the different drugs available for treating lower back pain in light of the most recent evidence coming from clinical studies. More critical research is needed to further define the roles of these medications in treating pain associated with lower back injury.

Analgesics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Initial study of back pain among radiographers.

Researchers surveyed state professional radiography organization members to document incidence of back pain, demographic data and preferences for performing radiography tasks. Six of the routine radiography tasks included in the survey were performed the same way by radiographers with back pain and those without back pain. Four of the tasks were performed differently by the two groups of radiographers. Applying biomechanical principles to radiography clinical situations may increase radiographers' awareness of, and decrease the incidence of, occupational back injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Estimation of trunk muscle forces and spinal loads during fatiguing repetitive trunk exertions.

STUDY DESIGN: The effects of human trunk extensor muscle fatigue on the estimated trunk muscle forces and spinal loading were investigated during the performance of repetitive dynamic trunk extension. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if alterations in the trunk muscle recruitment patterns resulted in a greater estimated active loading of the spine and, in turn, an increased risk of injury. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Epidemiologic studies highlight the increased risk of low back injury during repetitive lifting, implicating fatigue of muscles and/or passive tissues as causes of such injury. Increased trunk muscle activity or altered recruitment patterns resulting from fatigue in the primary trunk extensor muscles may indicate an increase in the active loading of the spine, which could contribute to an increased risk of injury. METHODS: Sixteen healthy study participants performed repetitive isokinetic trunk extension endurance tests at two load levels and two repetition rates, while their net muscular torque output and trunk muscular activity were measured. During each exertion, trunk torque, position, and velocity were controlled, so that any change in muscle activity could be attributed to fatigue. An electromyography-assisted model, adapted to accommodate the decline in maximum muscular tension generation resulting from fatigue, was used to estimate the 10 trunk muscle forces and spinal loading. Linear regression was used to quantify the rate of change in muscle force and spinal loading resulting from fatigue, while analysis of variance was used to determine if the rate of change was dependent on the task conditions (load and repetition rate). RESULTS: Significant elevations were estimated for the latissimus dorsi and external oblique muscle forces in more than 70% of the endurance tests, whereas significant reductions in the erector spinae muscle force were predicted in 75% of the trials. The magnitude of the range of change of the erector spinae and latissimus dorsi muscle forces was dependent on the load level and repetition rate. The reduction in erector spinae forces offset the augmented force in the other muscles, because the net changes in compression and lateral shear forces on the spine were not significant, and the anteroposterior shear was reduced. CONCLUSION: The results of the study do not suggest that an increase in the muscular loading of the spine occurs as a result of changing trunk muscular recruitment patterns. Therefore, future studies should focus on injury mechanisms that may occur as a result of a change in the viscoelastic passive tissue responses, muscular insufficiency, or a decline in neuromuscular control and coordination.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Preemployment physical evaluation.

There is a growing trend toward using preemployment tests to select employees for physically demanding jobs. Women are, in increasing numbers, entering physically demanding occupations that were traditionally dominated by men. Under current Federal employment law, it is illegal to disqualify an employee for a job because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and with the recent passage of the American Disabilities Act (ADA), handicap. Because of gender differences in strength, body composition, and VO2max, preemployment tests for physically demanding jobs tend to screen out more females than males. Employers are using preemployment tests not only to enhance worker productivity, but also to minimize the threat of litigation for discriminatory hiring practices and to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The primary ergonomic methods used in industry to reduce the risk of back injuries are preemployment testing and job redesign. When a test results in adverse impact, the validity of the test must be established. Validity in this context means that the test represents or predicts the applicant's capacity to perform the job. Criterion-related, content, and construct validation studies are the means used to establish validity. The validity of preemployment hiring practices for physically demanding jobs has been decided in the courts. The most common reason for ruling an employment practice invalid is the failure to show that the test measured important job behaviors. Much of this litigation has involved height and weight requirements for public safety jobs. The courts have generally ruled that using height and weight standards as a criteria for employment is illegal because they were not job related. If fitness tests comprise part or all of the preemployment test, it is essential to demonstrate that the fitness component is related to job performance. Although there are many factors to consider when establishing a cut score, there is a growing trend toward establishing the cut score on the basis of the job's physical demands, defined by VO2max and strength. This literature is limited because most validation studies are not published. They more typically take the form of a technical report to the governmental agency or company that funded the project. There are published preemployment validation studies for outdoor telephone craft jobs involving pole-climbing tasks; firefighters; highway patrol officers; steel workers; underground coal miners; chemical plant workers; electrical transmission lineworkers; and various military jobs.

Employment↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of low-back pain in industry.

Low-back pain and back injuries are of such a complex nature that any one criterion cannot be applied by itself to give a valid assessment of the risk associated with manual materials-handling jobs. There is no question that low-back pain is an extremely significant cause of disability and has a major socioeconomic impact, but many different personal and job factors are associated with the incidence and prevalence of these complaints. There is a need for ongoing systematic investigations of the multiple risk factors that may be causally related to low-back pain and may possibly be amendable to preventive interventions. Knowledge of workplace and individual risk factors is far from complete. Prospective studies are needed so that factors contributing to the development of low-back pain can be separated from factors resulting from low-back pain. It is difficult to relate low-back pain to the workplace because it occurs quite often in workers employed in sedentary occupations. However, incidence, severity, and disability are all related to the physical demands of the job. In this regard, jobs involving lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, and holding; body movements such as frequent bending, twisting, and sudden movements; and working in bent-over postures appear to have a significant potential for producing low-back pain. A combination of lifting, bending, and twisting appears to be most hazardous. It is concluded that lifting heavy loads contributes to increased frequency and severity rates for low-back pain. This is true regardless of whether the lifting is performed over a short period or throughout the day and whether it is performed a few times per day of repetitively. If, however, such lifting is performed repetitively, the medical hazard extends beyond low-back problems to other musculoskeletal strain and sprain injuries and to fatigue-related injuries, particularly for weaker workers. In this latter regard, gender, age, anthropometry, and previous history of back pain are known to modify these risks for populations of workers. The inherent variability between workers and within any worker over time precludes the use of such factors to assign risk to any particular individual.

Female↗
PubMed1995

Effects of back support on intra-abdominal pressure and lumbar kinetics during heavy lifting.

Lumbosacral supports (LSSs) have been used to minimize the risk of lower back injuries. Theoretically, an LSS will raise intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and reduce loads in the lower back region. This investigation compared three different LSSs with an unsupported condition. Nine males lifted a weighted box four times, once per condition, at 90% of their one-repetition maximum. Conditions were compared in terms of effects on IAP and its relieving force on L5-S1 kinetics. A multivariate analysis of covariance revealed no statistically significant differences among the three LSSs and the nonsupport conditions on the aforementioned dependent variables. This suggests that there is no difference among LSSs in terms of their biomechanical effects on the lower back region and that the use of any LSS does not necessarily afford more protection than a proper lift without one.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1999

Wavelet analysis of electromyography for back muscle fatigue detection during isokinetic constant-torque exertions.

STUDY DESIGN: An investigation of the effects of human trunk extensor muscle fatigue on the temporal change in frequency content of the electromyogram as quantified using the Fourier and wavelet transforms during the performance of repetitive dynamic trunk extension. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether alterations in the Fourier and wavelet transform measures were consistent with a shift of the signal power to lower frequencies, and to determine which measures were more highly correlated with the decline in maximal trunk extension torque. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Objective assessment of trunk muscle fatigue is likely to play a more important role in the rehabilitation and prevention of low back injuries, given the association between lack of trunk muscle endurance and acquisition of low back pain. Validation of new methods designed to quantify the level of fatigue using the surface electromyogram is necessary before these techniques can be used in industrial rehabilitation settings. The wavelet transform is a recent development in the signal processing of electromyograms that shows promise as a method for assessment of fatigue. METHODS: Trunk muscle electromyograms obtained from study participants performing repetitive isokinetic trunk extension endurance tests were analyzed using the wavelet and the traditional Fourier methods. Trunk extension torque was controlled at 35% and 70% of the participants' maximal voluntary contraction while they exerted at 5 and 10 repetitions per minute. The decline in maximal trunk extension torque was measured once per minute. Linear regression quantified the rate of change in Fourier and wavelet measures caused by fatigue, whereas Pearson's correlation coefficient determined their association with the decline in maximum torque. RESULTS: Changes in the characteristics of the electromyogram were consistent with a shift to lower frequencies: The signal power at higher frequencies was reduced, whereas the power at lower frequencies was elevated. The amount of change was dependent on the task conditions (exertion level and repetition rate). The wavelet-based measures demonstrated as strong an association with the decline in maximal torque output as the Fourier-based measures. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that assessment of trunk muscle fatigue during isokinetic movementis possible using both Fourier and wavelet measurements. However, the methods were not as likely to change significantly during lower rates of exertion. These methods, when implemented in a controlled setting, may be used to document the rehabilitation process and guide preventive exercise training.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Guidelines for the performance of fusion procedures for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. Part 14: brace therapy as an adjunct to or substitute for lumbar fusion.

Although conflicting reports have been presented in the literature regarding the utility of lumbar braces for the prevention of low-back pain, most Class III medical evidence suggests that these supports used prophylactically do not reduce the incidence of low-back pain or decrease the amount of time lost from work in the general working population. Among workers with a history of a back injury, their use appears to decrease the number of work days lost due to back pain. Lumbar braces appear to be an effective treatment for acute low-back pain in some populations. They do not appear to be effective in the chronic low-back pain population. If a brace is used, rigid braces offer some benefit over soft braces. There are no data to suggest that relief of low-back pain with preoperative external bracing predicts a favorable outcome following lumbar spinal fusion. No information is available on the benefit of bracing for improving fusion rates or clinical outcomes following instrumented lumbar fusion for degenerative disease.

Braces↗
PubMed2003

Workplace prevention and musculoskeletal injuries in nurses.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the availability of preventive devices and training in relation to neck, shoulder, and back musculoskeletal injuries/disorders (MSD) in registered nurses. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Nurses have one of the highest rates of MSD of any occupation. Studies have shown that mechanical lifting devices and lifting teams can reduce MSD rates and associated costs. METHODS: Data from 1163 randomly selected currently working nurses (1+ years on the current job) were collected in anonymous mailed surveys (74% response rate). MSD cases had neck, shoulder, and/or back symptoms for at least 1 week, or at least monthly, and moderate or more pain, in the past year. RESULTS: Nurses with mechanical lifting devices available were significantly less likely to have neck or back MSDs. Back injury was less likely when lifting teams were available. However, adjustable beds and transfer sheets were associated with greater odds of back MSD. Training in workstation adjustment was associated with significantly lower MSD prevalence, though postural training was not. CONCLUSIONS: Though use of mechanical devices and lifting teams was limited in nursing workplaces, these prevention strategies were related to reduced odds of MSD. Nursing administrators can use these findings to consider workplace changes.

Accidents, Occupational↗