Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

The impact of operating heavy equipment vehicles on lower back disorders.
Ergonomics. 2008 May; 51(5):602-36.E

Abstract

Literature reviews examining the relationship between heavy equipment vehicle (HEV) operation and the development of musculoskeletal disorders have generally been qualitative in nature and have not employed an evidence-based assessment procedure. This research determines the extent to which whole-body vibration/shock and working postures are associated with lower back and neck disorders among HEV operators, while accounting for individual (i.e. age, gender, prior history of back or neck disorders) and occupational (i.e. material handling, climatic conditions, psychosocial factors) confounders. Published articles were obtained from a search of electronic databases and from bibliographies in the identified articles. A critical appraisal of these articles was conducted using an epidemiological appraisal instrument (Genaidy et al. 2007). The meta-analysis was conducted using statistical techniques employing fixed-effect and random-effect models. Eighteen articles reporting observational studies satisfied the inclusion criteria adopted for this research. The methodological qualities of the published studies ranged from marginal to average. The meta-relative risk was found to be 2.21, indicating that operators exposed to driving HEVs are at more than twice the risk of developing lower back pain in comparison to those not exposed to driving HEVs. Therefore, it seems possible that there is a causal relationship between working as a HEV operator and development of lower back disorders. Prospective cohort studies are urgently needed to confirm the outcomes of this evidence-based methodology (based in part on the meta-analysis) and the biological plausibility should be further explored. The reported findings point to a need for improved ergonomic design of HEVs.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Waters T
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA. trwl.cdc.gov
Genaidy A
No affiliation info available
Barriera Viruet H
No affiliation info available
Makola M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

ErgonomicsHumansLow Back PainModels, StatisticalMotor VehiclesMusculoskeletal DiseasesOccupational HealthPostureStress, MechanicalVibrationWeight-Bearing

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18432441

Citation

Waters, Thomas, et al. "The Impact of Operating Heavy Equipment Vehicles On Lower Back Disorders." Ergonomics, vol. 51, no. 5, 2008, pp. 602-36.
Waters T, Genaidy A, Barriera Viruet H, et al. The impact of operating heavy equipment vehicles on lower back disorders. Ergonomics. 2008;51(5):602-36.
Waters, T., Genaidy, A., Barriera Viruet, H., & Makola, M. (2008). The impact of operating heavy equipment vehicles on lower back disorders. Ergonomics, 51(5), 602-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140130701779197
Waters T, et al. The Impact of Operating Heavy Equipment Vehicles On Lower Back Disorders. Ergonomics. 2008;51(5):602-36. PubMed PMID: 18432441.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The impact of operating heavy equipment vehicles on lower back disorders. AU - Waters,Thomas, AU - Genaidy,Ash, AU - Barriera Viruet,Heriberto, AU - Makola,Mbulelo, PY - 2008/4/25/pubmed PY - 2008/8/16/medline PY - 2008/4/25/entrez SP - 602 EP - 36 JF - Ergonomics JO - Ergonomics VL - 51 IS - 5 N2 - Literature reviews examining the relationship between heavy equipment vehicle (HEV) operation and the development of musculoskeletal disorders have generally been qualitative in nature and have not employed an evidence-based assessment procedure. This research determines the extent to which whole-body vibration/shock and working postures are associated with lower back and neck disorders among HEV operators, while accounting for individual (i.e. age, gender, prior history of back or neck disorders) and occupational (i.e. material handling, climatic conditions, psychosocial factors) confounders. Published articles were obtained from a search of electronic databases and from bibliographies in the identified articles. A critical appraisal of these articles was conducted using an epidemiological appraisal instrument (Genaidy et al. 2007). The meta-analysis was conducted using statistical techniques employing fixed-effect and random-effect models. Eighteen articles reporting observational studies satisfied the inclusion criteria adopted for this research. The methodological qualities of the published studies ranged from marginal to average. The meta-relative risk was found to be 2.21, indicating that operators exposed to driving HEVs are at more than twice the risk of developing lower back pain in comparison to those not exposed to driving HEVs. Therefore, it seems possible that there is a causal relationship between working as a HEV operator and development of lower back disorders. Prospective cohort studies are urgently needed to confirm the outcomes of this evidence-based methodology (based in part on the meta-analysis) and the biological plausibility should be further explored. The reported findings point to a need for improved ergonomic design of HEVs. SN - 0014-0139 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/18432441/The_impact_of_operating_heavy_equipment_vehicles_on_lower_back_disorders_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -