Research Plus

No link to low back pain

There is no evidence from eight systematic reviews, covering 99 studies, that occupational physical activity causes low back pain (LBP), although individual workers may attribute it to their work. There is no strong causal relationship between occupational physical activity and LBP, and there is conflicting evidence of an association (not causal) between LBP and bending, twisting, lifting, and pushing and pulling. There is strong evidence that assisting patients, manual handling, carrying, awkward postures, sitting, standing and walking does not cause LBP. Methodological weaknesses are common and need to be addressed in future research.

Occupational Medicine 2011; online first: doi:10.1093/occmed/kqr092

Tags back pain evidence based practice physical activity

Occupational Health at Work August/September 2011 (vol. 08/2) pp42