Baty D, Stubbs D A
Ergonomics Research Unit, Robens Institute, University of Surrey, Guildford, U.K.
Int J Nurs Stud. 1987;24(4):339-44. doi: 10.1016/0020-7489(87)90027-7.
An assessment has been made of the static and dynamic forces and postures involved in the nursing day using direct observations and an assessment of truncal stress by means of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Subjects were nurses working in the specialty of geriatric nursing in four health regions. Levels of postural activity with regard to stooping, standing, walking and sitting accounted for 98% of the total shift time. Stooping activity was observed at a level of 22% overall which, from the literature, would suggest an increased risk for back pain. Of further concern was the uneven distribution of postural stress with respect to the component hours within shifts. Comparisons of IAP data with other studies indicate that the subjects examined in this study are neither within the 'low' nor 'high' back pain risk categories. This finding, however, should be taken in the context of the high levels of static postural stress reported and the possible cumulative and interactive effects of static and dynamic load. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the work system as a whole and attention is drawn to recent recommendations with respect to the prevention of back pain within the nursing profession.
