Personal and psychosocial variables in workers with a previous history of LBP: 16-month follow-up

Abstract

A 16-month longitudinal study was made of workers who perform physically demanding jobs. In a previous study some of these workers were found to have a history of low back disorders sufficient to miss work, and others not. All were asymptomatic at that time. To further quantify the association between various personal and psychosocial parameters that linger due to a history of low back disorders and how they may change after another 16 months of work. Originally, 72 workers were recruited from heavy industry; 26 of whom had a history of disabling low back disorders sufficient to miss work. In the follow-up study, 46 responded all of whom remained at work injury free, 13 belonged to the ‘history of back disorders’ category. While the earlier study suggested that having a history of low back disorders is associated with a larger waist girth, a greater chronicity potential as predicted from psychosocial questionnaires, perturbed flexion to extension strength and endurance ratios, and widespread motor control deficits across a variety of tasks some of which resulted in high back loads, the follow-up showed no difference in reported physical symptoms, or perceived pain over the 16 months. Both groups changed their responses from the original data collection to the 16-month follow-up with the net result of psychosocial distinguishing traits, in those with a history, diminishing. It was concluded that time and work appear to be healing.

Keywords:

• Low back
• Injury
• pain
• Lumbar
• work intolerance
• Ergonomics
• Prevention