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
Work-Related Outcomes in Occupational Low Back Pain: A Multidimensional Analysis
Objectives . This pilot study explored a broad range of work-related outcomes for occupational low back injuries . Methods . A model of occupational outcomes and a survey instrument were developed on the basis of interviews , expert opinion , and literature review s. New Hampshire workers who had an occupational back injury a year before the study were sample d from first reports of injury and sent a mailed survey about their postinjury experiences and related factors . Results . Of 251 r and omly selected cases , a valid address could be identified for 121 , and 99 patients responded . Almost 60 % of the respondents had lost 1 week of work or more . At 1 year after injury , half of the respondents had returned to their preinjury job and employer , and 20 % were unemployed , half of them because of the injury . Most working respondents reported no decrease in their work capacity . However , 68 % still had pain exacerbated by work , and 47 % worried that their condition would worsen with continued work . Reinjury occurred in 42 % of the respondents . The work-related outcome measures were largely independent of each other . Exploratory multivariate analyses demonstrated unique patterns of factors associated with each outcome . Reinjury risk was significantly greater in respondents whose employers offered accommodations or whose postinjury jobs had greater ergonomic risk . The small sample size limited the ability to achieve statistically significant results in multivariate analyses . Conclusions . Simply measuring return to work did not appear to capture the full range of job-related consequences from occupational back injuries in this pilot evaluation . Timing of return to work , occupational ergonomic risks , and appropriate job modifications appeared to be particularly important in a safe return to the job after an occupational low back injury . Results suggest opportunities to address risk factors that may improve work outcomes
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