Low-back and shoulder complaints among workers with pushing and pulling tasks.

Objectives: Low-back and shoulder complaints were examined in relation to self-reported and objectively assessed exposure to work-related pushing and pulling.

Methods: Workers from several companies (eg, nursing homes and flower auctions) with pushing and pulling tasks and, as reference, workers without physically demanding tasks were invited to participate. Altogether 829 workers initially received a questionnaire, of whom 459 responded both initially and after 1 year of follow-up.