Elsevier

Clinical Biomechanics

Volume 2, Issue 4, November 1987, Pages 196-198
Clinical Biomechanics

Original article
Does hard work prevent disc protrusion?

https://doi.org/10.1016/0268-0033(87)90081-7Get rights and content

Abstract

This study compares the prevalence of coal miners attending hospital with three defined back pain syndromes, with the number of miners in the working population. Of the men who attended hospital with back pain there were more miners than would be expected (2·78% of the miners compared with 1·99% of the non-miners). 0·32% of the miners had criteria of disc protrusion compared with 0·4% of non-miners; significantly more had syndromes associated with degenerative change. Relatively few men requiring disc excision were miners, whilst there were many who had decompressive surgery. This is compatible with the concept that heavy manual work strengthens the spine, restraining encroachment of a disc protrusion into the vertebral canal.

References (16)

  • J. Matthews

    J Agric Eng Res

    (1964)
  • J.D.G. Troup

    The function of the lumbar spine

  • G. Cust et al.

    The prevalence of low back pain in nurses

    Int Nursing Rev

    (1972)
  • D.N. Chaffin et al.

    A longitudinal study of low back pain as associated with occupational weight lifting factors

    Am Indust Hyg Assoc J

    (1973)
  • A. Allawi
  • J.W. Frymoyer et al.

    Risk factors in low back pain

    J Bone Joint Surg

    (1983)
  • J.L. Kelsey

    An epidemiological study of acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs

    Rheumatol Rehabil

    (1975)
  • J.A. McCulloch

    Chemonucleolysis

    J Bone Joint Surg

    (1977)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (31)

  • Is there a role for endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of lumbar disc degeneration? A hypothesis that needs to be tested

    2015, Medical Hypotheses
    Citation Excerpt :

    Finally, along with age, genetic predisposition and individual spinal anatomy, working and social environmental influence cannot be dissociated from a comprehensive pathogenetic view of this disability [9]. Lifting and carrying loads, as well as continuous bending forward, during work activities may facilitate the onset of LBP over a shorter period of time [10], even if some authors report how column load could also be a protective factor against the diseases [11]. Other authors have also investigated the role of sports, such as soccer and football, and strenuous physical exercise presenting them as risk factors for onset of LBP [12].

  • Low back pain and sciatica

    2012, Yao & Artusio's Anesthesiology: Problem-Oriented Patient Management: Seventh Edition
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text