Understanding and prevention of low back pain in care workers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the actual situation of low back pain (LBP) prevention in care workers with questionnaires, and this data were used to clarify and decrease LBP factors. Subjects were 52 care workers (30.7 ± 10.0 years old) in a nursing home who filled out two kinds of questionnaires about LBP, one about the prevalence of LBP (QN1) and the other about LBP control measures (QN2). They had either license of certified care worker, 1st or 2nd class care worker. The data were collected for the purpose of finding differences in age and career (QN1) and differences in LBP control measures (QN2) between subjects with and without LBP. The average career of the subjects was 19.1 ± 12.5 months, and the prevalence of LBP among them was 46.2% (24 care workers), of which 66.7% began having LBP after starting work as care workers. Moreover, 75.0% of these subjects began having LBP within a year after starting work. Further, of the 24 care workers with LBP, 66.7% reported constantly experiencing LBP. The major risk factors given for LBP in care work were transfer, the replacement of diapers, and movement in a half-sitting posture. Compared with LBP subjects, rates of taking preventative steps in the non-LBP group were low. More than 80% of the subjects with LBP engaged in prevention methods such as using body mechanics, learning the proper way to perform care activities, using LBP support belts, and increasing their skills and knowledge with regard to their job responsibilities. Most subjects began to engage in such prevention methods after the onset of LBP. The results of this investigation indicated that most subjects did not engage in measures to counter their LBP until after it had already started, and that they selected prevention methods which were easy to perform and effective. It is important for care workers to learn the best ways to inhibit pain and prevent the occurrence, or recurrence, of LBP. It is necessary for physical therapists to grasp the actual situation of LBP prevention as an occupational disease and to educate this.