Evaluation and prediction of back pain during military field service.

Questions regarding back pain in different body positions and earlier sick-listing due to back disorders have been answered by 5093 men aged 23--47 (average age 37) who were about to do military field service. Fifty-three % reported that they had had back pain at some time and 14% stated that they had been sick-listed for more than one month in all due to back troubles. A subsample was subjected to a standardized physical examination of the back, average examination time 9 min, and the frequency and location of pain, stiffness of other impairments are given. Subjects who experienced back pain during the field service and whose military post was physically heavier than their civilian occupation had on an average lower isometric strength in abdominal muscles as well as in back muscles than other subjects. The physical examination of the lumbar spine was more efficient in separating subjects who experienced back pain during military field service, than information on earlier sick-listing due to back troubles and heaviness of the military post as compared to civilian occupation.