Research to reality: a critical review of the validity of various criteria for the prevention of occupationally induced low back pain disability

Abstract

Criteria have been suggested to reduce the incidence, or severity of low back pain disability. Five underlying theories for such criteria have been identified in the literature, and a critical review of the validity of these criteria has been carried out. Despite attributions elsewhere, peer-reviewed validation of the various criteria range from modest to nil. The need for a validation criterion for use in workplace design in order to reduce low back pain disability, or severity, is identified and the need for an international protocol to allow cross-study validation of present and future criteria is suggested.

Keywords:

• Low back pain
• Manual materials handling
• Field validations
• Biomechanics stress
• Psychophysical limits
• Intra-abdominal pressure