The authors discuss the origins of low back pain, events that lead to injury, and the consequences to employers. Back pain is correlated with specific occupational factors. Nearly 150 illustrations further these discussions.

A systems approach to understanding and minimizing the causes of low back pain in the workplace Low back pain affects 80% of the population at some point during their lifetime; it is responsiblefor over 40% of the compensation costs for work-related injuries. This book provides an understanding of the mechanisms influencing low back pain in the workplace and indicates how low back pain might be prevented, saving employers extraordinary amounts in medical costs and protecting workers from the most common on-the-job injury. With a unique, multidisciplinary perspective that shows how various influences or risk factors can be considered collectively, The Working Back: A Systems View: Explains basic concepts in anatomy and physiology that are essential to understanding and preventing low back pain Provides a systems perspective on the occupational causes of back pain, not only addressing factors such as spine loading, but also considering the potential impact of psychosocial and organizational interactions, genetics, and physiology Discusses implementing preventive engineering and administrative controls and integrating risk interventions into the workplace Offers an expert analysis of current medical research on low back pain in one comprehensive, accessible reference This book gives readers the knowledge to assess a work environment and prescribe effective interventions. It is a hands-on reference for ergonomists, manufacturing engineers, process engineers, industrial engineers and managers, safety engineers, nurses, therapists, chiropractors, physicians, and workers with back pain. It is also an excellent resource for graduate or undergraduate students of kinesiology, physiology, ergonomics, physical therapy, nursing, industrial design, engineering, and general medicine.

Back injuries can be controlled and prevented! They are not and should not be accepted as a cost of doing business! Written in plain language for the industrial professional, this book presents back injury prevention methods that have proven effective for cost containment. Such techniques include the 5-year back attack, the Olympic weight lifting model applied to the industrial setting. Training styles, and concepts for a proper educational format are also emphasized. The author draws on literature from around the world and his own experience of over 20 years of treating and preventing back pain and neck pain in presenting information in this book. Several case studies prove that back injuries can be prevented, which can save hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours of lost work. This book will prove essential for helping trainers, safety specialists, ergonomists, industrial hygienists, and other industry personnel to implement the best cure for back pain-prevention!

Every year workers' low-back, hand, and arm problems lead to time away from jobs and reduce the nation's economic productivity. The connection of these problems to workplace activities-from carrying boxes to lifting patients to pounding computer keyboards-is the subject of major disagreements among workers, employers, advocacy groups, and researchers. Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace examines the scientific basis for connecting musculoskeletal disorders with the workplace, considering people, job tasks, and work environments. A multidisciplinary panel draws conclusions about the likelihood of causal links and the effectiveness of various intervention strategies. The panel also offers recommendations for what actions can be considered on the basis of current information and for closing information gaps. This book presents the latest information on the prevalence, incidence, and costs of musculoskeletal disorders and identifies factors that influence injury reporting. It reviews the broad scope of evidence: epidemiological studies of physical and psychosocial variables, basic biology, biomechanics, and physical and behavioral responses to stress. Given the magnitude of the problem-approximately 1 million people miss some work each year-and the current trends in workplace practices, this volume will be a must for advocates for workplace health, policy makers, employers, employees, medical professionals, engineers, lawyers, and labor officials.

Recoge: 1. Introduction - 2. The nature of work-related low back disorders - 3. Risk factors - 4. Strategies and effectiveness of prevention - 5. Risk assessment methods - 6. Future research topics - 7. Conclusions - 8. References - 9. Appendices.