This was a prospective study of new recruits with no previous pain in the preceding month. Ergonomic factors were independently observed as well as reported by questionnaire. Risk factors for new reports of pain lasting more than a day were identified.
Evidence from:
CM Pritchard (GJMacfarlane) Occupational and Environmental Medicine. June (2001) Vol.58 #6 p 374.
Psychosocial factors were not predictive. The work reported here suggests that eliminating unbalanced and heavy lifting at work would improve, self-reported, employee comfort. A sense of what is meant by “heavy” can be gleaned from the detailed results. None of those reporting new pain had taken any time off work because of it.
The Radar report is available to subscribers: