Effect of manual handling weight for lifting and carrying on the severity of acute occupational low back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Preventing the progression of occupational low back pain (LBP) is a critical occupational safety and health concern, alongside reducing its incidence. Manual handling of heavy loads may increase LBP severity. This study investigates the impact of lifting and carrying weights on LBP severity in affected workers.

Methods

A total of 2418 cases of acute occupational LBP, each resulting in more than four days of absence from work, were analyzed. These cases, reported as industrial accidents in Japan 2018-2019, were categorized into four weight-handling groups: < 10, 10-20, 20-30, and ≥ 30 kg. LBP severity was defined based on the duration of work absence, as determined by a physician's diagnosis at the onset, and was categorized into four groups: 4-7, 8-14, 15-30, and ≥ 3

SUBMITTER: Iwakiri K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12331803 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature