Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.67 No.3 page.186

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ArticleTitle An Epidemiologic Study of Occupational Low Back Pain in Truck Drivers

AuthorList Masabumi Miyamoto, Yasumasa Shirai, Yoshihito Nakayama, Yoshikazu Gembun and Kazuhiro Kaneda

Affiliation Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School

Language EN

Volume 67

Issue 3

Year 2000

Page 186-190

Received January 14, 2000

Accepted March 1, 2000

Keywords occupational low back pain, truck drivers, questionnaire, epidemiologic study

Abstract The factors in volved in occupational low back pain occurring in professional drivers were investigated epidemiologically with questionnaires (92 items) including low back symptoms, personal factors and occupational factors. The responses of one hundred fifty-three of one hundred eighty-one truck drivers who work in a large chemical industry corporation were analyzed after they had completely filled in questionnaires. As analysis of the results shows, the prevalence of LBP in one month of the survey was 50.3%. Correlating among data of personal factors and LBP, the prevalence of LBP was significantly higher in the drivers (Odd's ratio of 2.7) who answered"yes"to the item"shortage of spending time with family"than in the drivers who didnt answer"yes". The occupational factors, working load and working environment showed no correlation with the prevalence of LBP. In contrast, 3 items of the working format related significantly to the prevalence of LBP: "irregular duty time" (Odd's ratio of 3.0), "short resting time" (2.4), and "long driving time in a day" (2.0). Eighty-one of the 153 drivers (52.9%) pointed out the relationship between LBP and work, especially work which muolves vibration or road shock. Our results and the results from previous published studies suggested that vibration is an obvious risk factor for LBP. From the viewpoint of prophylaxis, an improvement in working conditions reduces the incidence of drivers' LBP to some extent.

Correspondence to Masabumi Miyamoto, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan.

ArticleTitle	An Epidemiologic Study of Occupational Low Back Pain in Truck Drivers
AuthorList	Masabumi Miyamoto, Yasumasa Shirai, Yoshihito Nakayama, Yoshikazu Gembun and Kazuhiro Kaneda
Affiliation	Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School
Language	EN
Volume	67
Issue	3
Year	2000
Page	186-190
Received	January 14, 2000
Accepted	March 1, 2000
Keywords	occupational low back pain, truck drivers, questionnaire, epidemiologic study
Abstract	The factors in volved in occupational low back pain occurring in professional drivers were investigated epidemiologically with questionnaires (92 items) including low back symptoms, personal factors and occupational factors. The responses of one hundred fifty-three of one hundred eighty-one truck drivers who work in a large chemical industry corporation were analyzed after they had completely filled in questionnaires. As analysis of the results shows, the prevalence of LBP in one month of the survey was 50.3%. Correlating among data of personal factors and LBP, the prevalence of LBP was significantly higher in the drivers (Odd's ratio of 2.7) who answered"yes"to the item"shortage of spending time with family"than in the drivers who didnt answer"yes". The occupational factors, working load and working environment showed no correlation with the prevalence of LBP. In contrast, 3 items of the working format related significantly to the prevalence of LBP: "irregular duty time" (Odd's ratio of 3.0), "short resting time" (2.4), and "long driving time in a day" (2.0). Eighty-one of the 153 drivers (52.9%) pointed out the relationship between LBP and work, especially work which muolves vibration or road shock. Our results and the results from previous published studies suggested that vibration is an obvious risk factor for LBP. From the viewpoint of prophylaxis, an improvement in working conditions reduces the incidence of drivers' LBP to some extent.
Correspondence to	Masabumi Miyamoto, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan.