Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Symptomatology of recurrent low back pain in nursing and administrative professions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Spine Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore if (a) recurrent low back pain (LBP) has different symptomatologies in cases from occupations with predominantly sitting postures compared to cases from occupations involving dynamic postures and frequent lifting and (b) if in the two occupational groups, different factors were associated with the presence of recurrent LBP. Hundred and eleven female subjects aged between 45 and 62 years with a long-standing occupation either in administrative or nursing professions, with and without recurrent LBP were examined. An extensive evaluation of six areas of interest (pain and disability, clinical examination, functional tests, MR examination, physical and psychosocial workplace factors) was performed. The variables from the six areas of interest were analyzed for their potential to discriminate between the four groups of subjects (administrative worker and nurses with and without recurrent LBP) by canonical discriminant analysis. As expected, the self-evaluation of physical and psychosocial workplace factors showed significant differences between the two occupational groups, which holds true for cases as well as for controls (P < 0.01). The functional tests revealed a tendency for rather good capacity in nurses with LBP and a decreased capacity in administrative personnel with LBP (P = 0.049). Neither self completed pain and disability questionnaires nor clinical examination or MR imaging revealed any significant difference between LBP cases from sedentary and non-sedentary occupations. When comparing LBP cases and controls within the two occupational groups, the functional tests revealed significant differences (P = 0.0001) yet only in administrative personnel. The clinical examination on the other hand only discriminated between LBP cases and controls in the nurses group (P < 0.0001). Neither MRI imaging nor self reported physical and psychosocial workplace factors discriminated between LBP cases and controls from both occupational groups. Although we used a battery of tests that have broad application in clinical and epidemiological studies of LBP, a clear difference in the pattern of symptoms between LBP cases from nursing and hospital administration personnel could not be ascertained. We conclude that there is no evidence for different mechanisms leading to non-specific, recurrent LBP in the two occupations, and thus no generalizable recommendations for the prevention and therapy of non-specific LBP in the two professions can be given.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. van Tulder M, Koes B, Bombardier C (2002) Low back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 16(5):761–775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Deyo RA, Weinstein JN (2001) Low back pain. N Engl J Med 344(5):363–370

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. National Research Council, T.I.o.M. (2001) Musculoskeletal disorders and the workplace: low back and upper extremities. National Academy Press, Washington

  4. Waddell G, Turk DC (1992) Clinical assessment of low back pain. In: Turk DC, Melzak R (eds) Handbook of pain assessment. The Guilford Press, New York, pp 15–36

    Google Scholar 

  5. Maul I et al (2003) Course of low back pain among nurses: a longitudinal study across eight years. Occup Environ Med 60(7):497–503

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Violante FS et al (2004) Associations of psychosocial and individual factors with three different categories of back disorder among nursing staff. J Occup Health 46(2):100–108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Eriksen W (2003) The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in Norwegian nurses’ aides. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 76(8):625–630

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hignett S (1996) Work-related back pain in nurses. J Adv Nurs 23(6):1238–1246

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ljungberg AS, Kilbom A, Hagg GM (1989) Occupational lifting by nursing aides and warehouse workers. Ergonomics 32(1):59–78

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Engels JA et al (1996) Work related risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints in the nursing profession: results of a questionnaire survey. Occup Environ Med 53(9):636–641

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Thompson J (1989) Stress sense. Nurs Times 85(21):20

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hartvigsen J et al (2000) Is sitting-while-at-work associated with low back pain? A systematic, critical literature review. Scand J Public Health 28(3):230–239

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Leboeuf-Yde C (2004) Back pain–individual and genetic factors. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 14(1):129–133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Biering-Sorensen F (1984) Physical measurements as risk indicators for low-back trouble over a one-year period. Spine 9(2):106–119

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. McCombe PF et al (1989) Volvo Award in clinical sciences. Reproducibility of physical signs in low-back pain. Spine 14(9):908–918

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Verbunt JA et al (2003) Disuse and deconditioning in chronic low back pain: concepts and hypotheses on contributing mechanisms. Eur J Pain 7(1):9–21

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Essendrop M et al (2002) Measures of low back function: a review of reproducibility studies. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 17(4):235–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Boos N et al (1995) Volvo Award in clinical sciences. The diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging, work perception, and psychosocial factors in identifying symptomatic disc herniations. Spine 20(24):2613–2625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Boos N et al (2000) Natural history of individuals with asymptomatic disc abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging: predictors of low back pain-related medical consultation and work incapacity. Spine 25(12):1484–1492

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kjaer P et al (2005) Magnetic resonance imaging and low back pain in adults: a diagnostic imaging study of 40-year-old men and women. Spine 30(10):1173–1180

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hoogendoorn WE et al (2000) Flexion and rotation of the trunk and lifting at work are risk factors for low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study. Spine 25(23):3087–3092

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Burdorf A, Sorock G (1997) Positive and negative evidence of risk factors for back disorders. Scand J Work Environ Health 23(4):243–256

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Punnett L, Wegman DH (2004) Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: the epidemiologic evidence and the debate. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 14(1):13–23

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Burton AK (2005) How to prevent low back pain. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 19(4):541–555

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Hoogendoorn WE et al (2000) Systematic review of psychosocial factors at work and private life as risk factors for back pain. Spine 25(16):2114–2125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Schenk P et al (2006) Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine: findings in female subjects from administrative and nursing professions. Spine 31(23):2701–2706

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Schenk P, Läubli T, Klipstein A (2006) Validity of pressure pain thresholds in female worker with and without persistent low back pain. Eur Spine J doi:10.1007/s00586- 006-0124-x

  28. Schenk P et al (2006) The role of back muscle endurance, maximum force, balance and trunk rotation control regarding lifting capacity. Eur J Appl Physiol 96(2):146–156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Quack C et al (2006) Do MRI findings correlate with mobility tests? An explorative analysis of the test validity with regard to structure doi:10.1007/s00586-006-0264-z

  30. Kuorinka I et al (1987) Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon 18(3):233–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Roland M, Morris R (1983) A study of the natural history of back pain. Part I: development of a reliable and sensitive measure of disability in low-back pain. Spine 8(2):141–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Beurskens AJ et al (1995) Measuring the functional status of patients with low back pain. Assessment of the quality of four disease-specific questionnaires. Spine 20(9):1017–1028

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ilmarinen J, Rantanen J (1999) Promotion of work ability during ageing. Am J Ind Med Suppl 1:21–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. de Zwart BC, Frings-Dresen MH, van Duivenbooden JC (2002) Test-retest reliability of the Work Ability Index questionnaire. Occup Med (Lond) 52(4):177–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Astrand PO (1970) Textbook of work physiology. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  36. Isernhagen SJ, Hart DL, Matheson LM (1999) Reliability of independent observer judgments of level of lift effort in a kinesiophysical Functional Capacity Evaluation. Work 12(2):145–150

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Mayer TG et al (1988) Progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation. I. A standardized protocol and normative database. Spine 13(9):993–997

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Pfirrmann CW et al (2001) Magnetic resonance classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine 26(17):1873–1878

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Weishaupt D et al (1998) MR imaging of the lumbar spine: prevalence of intervertebral disk extrusion and sequestration, nerve root compression, end plate abnormalities, and osteoarthritis of the facet joints in asymptomatic volunteers. Radiology 209(3):661–666

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Modic MT et al (1988) Imaging of degenerative disk disease. Radiology 168(1):177–186

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kristensen TS, Borg V, Hannerz H (2002) Socioeconomic status and psychosocial work environment: results from a Danish national study. Scand J Public Health Suppl 59:41–48

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Kjellberg A et al (2000) Mood ratings at work and job strain and theis relation to neck and shoulder symptoms. In: Proceedings of the XIVth triannial congres of the international ergonomics association and 44th annual meeting of the human factors and ergonomics society, San Diego, USA

  43. Koes BW et al (2001) Clinical guidelines for the management of low back pain in primary care: an international comparison. Spine 26(22):2504–2513; discussion 2513–2514

    Google Scholar 

  44. Hildebrandt J et al (1997) Prediction of success from a multidisciplinary treatment program for chronic low back pain. Spine 22(9):990–1001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Jensen MC et al (1994) Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. N Engl J Med 331(2):69–73

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Videman T, Battie MC (1999) The influence of occupation on lumbar degeneration. Spine 24(11):1164–1168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Bongers PM et al (1993) Psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease. Scand J Work Environ Health 19(5):297–312

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Nolting HD et al (2005) Multivariate analysis fo the risk factors associated with the develpment of back problems in persons employed in the chemicla industry. Arbeitsmed Sozialmed Umweltmed 40(12):630–638

    Google Scholar 

  49. Yaari A et al (1999) Chronic pain in Holocaust survivors. J Pain Symptom Manage 17(3):181–187

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Rabben SI et al (2000) Semiautomatic contour detection in ultrasound M-mode images. Ultrasound Med Biol 26(2):287–296

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Prof. R. Merletti for managing the European cost shared project NEW (Neuromuscular assessment in the Elderly Worker, contract Nr. QLRT-2000-00139) as well as the Swiss State Secretariat for Education and Research for funding. Furthermore we wish to thank Leanne Pobjoy for her help with the manuscript. The study was approved by the responsible ethics committee.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Organisational and Occupational Health Sciences (ZOA), ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 25a, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Peter Schenk, Thomas Läubli & Andreas Klipstein

  2. Orthopaedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland

    Juerg Hodler

  3. Department of Rheumatology and Institute of Physical Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Andreas Klipstein

Authors
  1. Peter Schenk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas Läubli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juerg Hodler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Andreas Klipstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Schenk.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schenk, P., Läubli, T., Hodler, J. et al. Symptomatology of recurrent low back pain in nursing and administrative professions. Eur Spine J 16, 1789–1798 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0346-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-007-0346-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation