International archives of occupational and environmental health
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Aug 2013
Perceived physical exertion during healthcare work and risk of chronic pain in different body regions: prospective cohort study.
To estimate the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain in different body regions from varying degrees of perceived physical exertion during healthcare work. ⋯ Strenuous perceived physical exertion during healthcare work is a risk factor especially for developing chronic pain in the low back. The possible preventive effect of reducing strenuous physical exertion should be tested in randomized controlled trials.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Jul 2013
Do physical or psychosocial factors at work predict multi-site musculoskeletal pain? A 4-year follow-up study in an industrial population.
Musculoskeletal pain at multiple sites is common among working-age people and greatly increases work disability risk. Little is known of the work-related physical and psychosocial factors contributing to multi-site pain. ⋯ This prospective study provides new evidence of the high occurrence and persistence of musculoskeletal pain at multiple body sites in an industrial population with a strong association between biomechanical and psychosocial exposures at work and multi-site pain. Prevention of multi-site pain with many-sided modification of work exposures is likely to reduce work disability.
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To assess the symptoms of heat illness experienced by surface mine workers. ⋯ These findings show that surface mine workers routinely experience symptoms of heat illness and highlight that control measures are required to prevent symptoms progressing to medical cases of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · May 2013
Risk for low back pain from different frequencies, load mass and trunk postures of lifting and carrying among female healthcare workers.
To investigate the risk of developing non-chronic and chronic low back pain (LBP) from frequency, load mass and trunk postures of occupational lifting and carrying among female healthcare workers. ⋯ Preventive initiatives for LBP among healthcare workers ought to pay attention to frequent lifting and carrying of low load mass with forward bent back.
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Int Arch Occup Environ Health · Apr 2013
Prognostic occupational factors for persistent low back pain in primary care.
To reduce the socio-economic burden of persistent low back pain (LBP), factors influencing the progression of acute/subacute LBP to the persistent state must be identified at an early stage. ⋯ In this study of patients with acute/subacute LBP, 'resigned attitude towards the job' increased the likelihood of persistent LBP at 6 month. Addressing this factor with workplace interventions has the potential to modify the outcome. In patients experiencing 'social support at work', the development of persistent LBP was less likely and might therefore be considered as potential resource for prevention of persistent LBP.