Association between occupational lifting and day-to-day change in low-back pain intensity based on company records and text messages.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between occupational lifting and day-to-day change in low-back pain (LBP) intensity. Methods Each day for three consecutive weeks, 95 full-time workers from 51 Danish supermarkets with frequent occupational lifting replied to daily text messages about LBP intensity (scale 0-10). Supervisors at the supermarkets provided information about daily working hours and load (number of different pallets handled) for each worker during the three weeks.

Physical workload and risk of long-term sickness absence in the general working population and among blue-collar workers: prospective cohort study with register follow-up.

Objective: To determine the prospective association between physical workload--in terms of specific physical exposures and the number of exposures--and long-term sickness absence (LTSA).

Methods: Using cox-regression analyses, we estimated the risk of register-based incident LTSA (at least 3 consecutive weeks) from self-reported exposure to different physical workloads among 11,908 wage earners from the general working population (Danish Work Environment Cohort Study year 2000 and 2005).

Results: The incidence of LTSA was 8.

Straight ladder inclined angle in a field environment: the relationship among actual angle, method of set-up and knowledge.

Ladder inclined angle is a critical factor that could lead to a slip at the base of portable straight ladders, a major cause of falls from heights. Despite several methods established to help workers achieve the recommended 75.5° angle for ladder set-up, it remains unclear if these methods are used in practice.

Does rare use of assistive devices during patient handling increase the risk of low back pain? A prospective cohort study among female healthcare workers.

Purpose: To investigate whether rare use of assistive devices during patient handling increases the respective risk for infrequent and frequent low back pain (LBP) among female healthcare workers reporting to be free of LBP at baseline.

Method: Female healthcare workers replied to questionnaires about use of assistive devices during patient handling activities (rarely, occasionally and often) and LBP in both 2005 and 2006. Among those reporting to be free of LBP (0 days the past 12 months) in 2005 (n = 1,478), the multi-adjusted odds ratio for developing infrequent LBP (1-30 days the past 12 months) and frequent LBP (>30 days the past 12 months) in 2006 depending on use of assistive devices was prospectively investigated.

Effect of grip type, wrist motion, and resistance level on pressures within the carpal tunnel of normal wrists.

Elevated carpal tunnel pressure (CTP) has been associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. This study systematically evaluated the effect of wrist motion resistance and grip type on CTP during wrist motion typical of occupational tasks. CTP during four wrist motion patterns, with and without resistance, and with and without gripping, was measured in vivo in 14 healthy individuals.