NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Efficacy of the revised NIOSH lifting equation to predict risk of low back pain due to manual lifting: expanded cross-sectional analysis.

Waters TR; Lu M-L; Piacitelli LA; Werren D; Deddens JA

J Occup Environ Med 2011 Sep; 53(9):1061-1067

https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31822cfe5e

20039527

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE) is a valid tool for assessing risk of low back pain (LBP) due to manual lifting by using combined data from two cross-sectional studies of 1-year prevalence. METHODS: Results from a symptom and occupational history questionnaire and RNLE analysis for 677 subjects employed in 125 manual lifting jobs at nine industrial sites were combined from two studies. RESULTS: The odds of LBP increased as the lifting index (LI) increased from 1.0 to 3.0. A statistically significant odds ratio (OR) was found for both the 1 < LI < / = 2 (OR = 1.81) and the 2 < LI < / = 3 categories (OR = 2.26). For jobs with an LI value greater than 3.0, however, the OR remained nonsignificant. The 2 < LI < / = 3 group remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, and psychosocial factors. CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that as the LI increases, the risk of LBP increases. Longitudinal studies are needed.

Manual-lifting; Manual-materials-handling; Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal-system; Musculoskeletal-system-disorders; Back-injuries; Risk-analysis; Exposure-assessment; Health-surveys; Questionnaires; Cumulative-trauma; Cumulative-trauma-disorders; Demographic-characteristics; Risk-factors; Job-rotation; Physical-capacity; Statistical-analysis; Industrial-environment; Weight-factors; Weight-measurement; Mathematical-models

Thomas R. Waters, PhD, NIOSH (C24), 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226

JOEMFM

20110901

Journal Article

2011

9

1076-2752

DART

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

OH