Since three of four RCTs on lumbar supports reported no effect , there is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports .
The four RCTs on exercise consistently reported a positive effect , indicating limited evidence for the effectiveness of exercise .
CONCLUSION There is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports or education in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace .
There is limited evidence for the efficacy of exercise , and the effect that can be obtained is moderate .
OBJECTIVE To up date the evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar supports , education and exercise in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace .
The Influence of Prophylactic Orthoses on Abdominal Strength and Low Back Injury in the Workplace
This study was design ed to determine the effect of multimodal intervention and the prevention of back injury , and to evaluate the adverse side effects of using a lumbosacral corset in the workplace . Subjects were 90 male warehouse workers r and omly selected from over 800 employees at a grocery distribution center . Subjects were assigned to three groups : true controls , no back school , no brace orthoses ; back school only ; and back school plus wearing a custom molded lumbosacral orthosis . Comparisons of pre-testing and 6-month follow-up posttesting for abdominal strength , cognitive data , work injury incidence and productivity and use of health care services were evaluated . Controls and training-only group showed no changes in strength productivity or lost time . Orthoses and training-group showed no changes in strength productivity or accident rate ; however , they showed substantially less lost time . This study supports the concept of using education and prophylactic bracing to prevent back injury and reduce time loss . It appears that the use of intermittent prophylactic bracing has no adverse affects on abdominal muscle strength and may contribute to decreased lost time from work injuries
Since three of four RCTs on lumbar supports reported no effect , there is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports .
The four RCTs on exercise consistently reported a positive effect , indicating limited evidence for the effectiveness of exercise .
CONCLUSION There is no evidence for the effectiveness of lumbar supports or education in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace .
There is limited evidence for the efficacy of exercise , and the effect that can be obtained is moderate .
OBJECTIVE To up date the evidence on the effectiveness of lumbar supports , education and exercise in the primary prevention of low back pain at the workplace .