A PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE SAFETY INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA

This study compared the effectiveness of stretching exercises, repeated over eight weeks combined with back care education, lumbar stabilisation combined with back care education, and back care education only, on pain and functional disability in quarry workers with work-related low back pain. The study involved 96 Nigerian quarry workers with work-related low back pain that were randomly assigned into; stretching exercise with back care education group, lumbar stabilisation exercise with back care education group, and back care education group. Participants’ pain was evaluated using Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale while functional disability was assessed using Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. Eighty–six participants completed the study (stretching exercise = 29, lumbar stabilisation =27 and back care education =30). There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the three groups at baseline. At week four of the study, stretching exercise demonstrated more significant reductions (p < 0.05) in pain and functional disability than back care education. Also, participants in the stretching exercise demonstrated more significant reductions (p < 0.05) in pain and functional disability than those in both lumbar stabilisation exercise and back care education at the end of week eight of the study. Stretching exercises are therefore better than lumbar stabilisation exercises and back care education in reducing pain and functional disability in individuals with work-related low back pain and are hence recommended for reducing pain and functional disability in individuals with work-related low back pain. Introduction Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal problem in the work place (Omokhodion and Sanya, 2003) and is a major cause of workrelated disability (Cunningham et al, 2008). It is associated with major costs in terms of health resource usage, worker disability and absenteeism (Maniadaki and Gray, 2003) and is one of the most common reasons for sick leave in the western world Reiso et al, 2003). Lotters and Burdorf (2006) indicated that working class employees in the construction industry are prone to high incidence of short and long-term sick leave absence, due to the high-risk of developing lower back pain. Work-related low back pain is prevalent in Nigeria with Aliu and Saidu (2006) reporting a 64% prevalence rate among stone quarry workers in northern Nigeria while Egwuonwu et al, (2013) reported 78.9% prevalence among drivers, mechanics, blasters, crushers and drillers working in a quarry industry in a South Eastern Nigeria. Various non-surgical approaches, such as back school, physical therapy modalities and exercise have been used in the treatment of low back pain (Sahin et al, 2011). Systematic reviews have been conducted to determine which intervention is most appropriate in decreasing complications of absenteeism and financial expenses of work-related low back pain (Tveito et al, 2004; Van Tulder et al, 2000). Studies have shown that spinal stabilisation exercises for acute, subacute, and chronic lower back pain patients