Radiographically detectable lumbar degenerative changes as risk indicators of back pain. A cross-sectional epidemiologic study of concrete reinforcement workers and house painters.
Open Access
- 1 August 1989
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health in Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
- Vol. 15 (4), 280-285
- https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1855
Abstract
The association between radiographically detectable degenerative changes in the lumbar spine and back symptoms was studied, along with the possible effect of occupational work load. The subjects were 216 concrete reinforcement workers and 201 house painters. A questionnaire provided information on work history and earlier back acdidents, and a standardized interview produced data on back symptoms. The occurrence of disc space narrowing, anterior and posterior spondylophytes, and endplate sclerosis was recorded separately for each intervertebral space from lateral lumbar radiographs. Moderate to severe degenerative changes were associated with increased risk of sciatic pain but not with the occurrence of lumbago or nonspecific back pain. The different types of degenerative changes provided no further information. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis degenerative changes and earlier back accidents were significant independent predictors of sciatic pain. When these two variates were allowed for, the effect of occupation was not significant.This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit:
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