Effect of training and lifting equipment for preventing back pain in lifting and handling: systematic review
Two articles on PainSci cite Martimo 2008: 1. The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain 2. Don’t Worry About Lifting Technique
PainSci commentary on Martimo 2008: ?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided wherever possible.
From the abstract: “There is no evidence to support use of advice or training in working techniques with or without lifting equipment for preventing back pain or consequent disability. The findings challenge current widespread practice of advising workers on correct lifting technique.”
original abstract †Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether advice and training on working techniques and lifting equipment prevent back pain in jobs that involve heavy lifting.
DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, Cochrane Back Group's specialised register, CINAHL, Nioshtic, CISdoc, Science Citation Index, and PsychLIT were searched up to September-November 2005. Review methods The primary search focused on randomised controlled trials and the secondary search on cohort studies with a concurrent control group. Interventions aimed to modify techniques for lifting and handling heavy objects or patients and including measurements for back pain, consequent disability, or sick leave as the main outcome were considered for the review. Two authors independently assessed eligibility of the studies and methodological quality of those included. For data synthesis, we summarised the results of studies comparing similar interventions. We used odds ratios and effect sizes to combine the results in a meta-analysis. Finally, we compared the conclusions of the primary and secondary analyses.
RESULTS: Six randomised trials and five cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Two randomised trials and all cohort studies were labelled as high quality. Eight studies looked at lifting and moving patients, and three studies were conducted among baggage handlers or postal workers. Those in control groups received no intervention or minimal training, physical exercise, or use of back belts. None of the comparisons in randomised trials (17 720 participants) yielded significant differences. In the secondary analysis, none of the cohort studies (772 participants) had significant results, which supports the results of the randomised trials.
CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to support use of advice or training in working techniques with or without lifting equipment for preventing back pain or consequent disability. The findings challenge current widespread practice of advising workers on correct lifting technique.
related content
- “Systematic review: occupational physical activity and low back pain,” Kwon et al, Occup Med (Lond), 2011.
- “Dose-response relationship between work-related cumulative postural exposure and low back pain: a systematic review,” Ribeiro et al, Ann Occup Hyg, 2012.
- “Causal assessment of occupational lifting and low back pain: results of a systematic review,” Wai et al, Spine J, 2010.
- “Epidemiologic evidence on manual materials handling as a risk factor for back disorders: a systematic review,” Kuiper et al, International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 1999.
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