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Back pain risk factors in nursing

The process of transferring patients has been identified as one of the main risk factors for developing back symptoms in nursing staff. However, a computer-based technique for continuously measuring and recording body posture and musculoskeletal loads finds that patient transfer takes up only a small proportion of the average shift and that nurses adopt many awkward postures throughout their working day. Postures that are both awkward and frequent – and therefore higher-risk – are associated with several common procedures, including bed making, basic care and clearing up.

Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2007 51(4): 385–395.  http://annhyg.oxfordjournals.org/content/51/4/385.abstract

Tags back pain evidence based practice msd - musculoskeletal disorder

Occupational Health at Work October/November 2007 (vol. 04/3) pp40