An epidemiologic study of lifting and twisting on the job and risk for acute prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.

An epidemiologic case-control study undertaken in Connecticut during 1979-1981 indicated that persons with jobs requiring lifting objects of more than 11.3 kg (25 lb) an average of more than 25 times per day had over three times the risk for acute prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc as people whose jobs did not involve lifting objects of this weight. If the body was usually twisted while the lifting was done, this elevation in risk was apparent with less frequent lifting. An especially high risk for prolapsed lumbar disc was associated with jobs involving lifting objects of more than 11.3 kg with the body usually twisted and the knees not bent while the lifting was done. Neither lifting objects of less than 11.3 kg nor twisting without lifting was associated with an increase in risk.