The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension
High physical work load and low job satisfaction increase the risk of sickness absence due to low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study
Objective : To determine whether physical and psychosocial load at work influence sickness absence due to low back pain . Methods : The research was a part of the study on musculoskeletal disorders , absenteeism , stress , and health ( SMASH ) , a 3 year prospect i ve cohort study on risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders . Workers from 21 companies located throughout The Netherl and s participated in the part of this study on sickness absence due to low back pain . The study population consisted of 732 workers with no sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain in the 3 months before the baseline survey and complete data on the reasons for absences during the follow up period . The mean ( range ) period of follow up in this group was 37 ( 7–44 ) months . Physical load at work was assessed by analyses of video recordings . Baseline information on psychosocial work characteristics was obtained by a question naire . Data on sickness absence were collected from company records . The main outcome measure was the rate of sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain during the follow up period . Results : After adjustment of the work related physical and psychosocial factors for each other and for other potential determinants , significant rate ratios ranging from 2.0 to 3.2 were found for trunk flexion , trunk rotation , lifting , and low job satisfaction . A dose-response relation was found for trunk flexion , but not for trunk rotation or lifting . Non-significant rate ratios of about 1.4 were found for low supervisor support and low coworker support . Quantitative job dem and s , conflicting dem and s , decision authority , and skill discretion showed no relation with sickness absence due to low back pain . Conclusions : Flexion and rotation of the trunk , lifting , and low job satisfaction are risk factors for sickness absence due to low back pain . Some indications of a relation between low social support , either from supervisors or coworkers , and sickness absence due to low back pain are also present
The following factors were found to have consistent , but limited , support as regards their influence on the risk for sick leave due to back and neck disorders : ( a ) heavy physical workload , bent or twisted working position , and low work satisfaction increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( b ) specific back diagnoses and previous sick leave due to back disorders increases the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( c ) female gender , smoking , exposure to vibration , and deficient social support were not found to significantly increase the risk for short-term and long-term sick leave ; ( d ) self-reported pain and functional impairments were associated with a high risk for long-term sick leave ; ( e ) longer employment periods reduced the risk for short-term sick leave ; ( f ) perceived dem and s at work did not influence short-term sick leave ; ( g ) female gender and higher age increases the risk for disability pension