Open AccessPrevention of occupational Back Pain
Author(s) -
Sultan Alotaibi
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of family and community medicine/maǧalaẗ ṭib al-usraẗ wa al-muǧtamaʼ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2229-340X
pISSN - 1319-1683
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8229.155370
Subject(s) - medicine , back pain , low back pain , health surveillance , occupational safety and health , physical therapy , work (physics) , medical surveillance , health care , occupational medicine , back injury , physical medicine and rehabilitation , alternative medicine , environmental health , pathology , mechanical engineering , engineering , economics , economic growth
This paper reviews scientific research on occupational back pain and focuses on prevention of this problem. It discusses some of the challenges of translating the evidence of this multi-factorial condition into policy. Medical science is currently unable to clearly distinguish between back pain caused by work and that possibly due to other causes but which affects the individual's capacity to work. Back pain affects the vast majority of people at some point in their lives and is very costly to both the health care system and the industry. Evidence suggests that heavy lifting, driving, and vibration of the whole body are linked to occupational back pain. Once the risk factors for occupational back pain are identified, an otherwise chronic and disabling condition can be prevented in the majority of patients. As explained in this article, three levels of prevention for occupational back pain have been reported as effective. Failure to implement preventive measures may lead to a high incidence of occupational back pain.