Implementation of a resident handling programme and low back pain in elder care workers (Occupational and Environmental Medicine)

Low back pain (LBP) is the most important contributor to number of years lived with a disability1 and a major risk factor for sickness absence and work disability.2 Occupational groups with physically demanding work, like healthcare workers, have particularly high prevalence of LBP,3 and a considerable fraction of the LBP is considered to be caused by work-related factors.4 Moreover, LBP is a particular barrier for sustainable employment among workers with physically demanding work.5 Therefore, implementation of equipment (mechanical lifts or other assistive devices) for reducing the mechanical loading of healthcare workers during manual handling of residents should theoretically be efficient for preventing LBP and sickness absence among those with LBP.3 However, interventions implementing equipment for reducing the mechanical loading on healthcare workers during manual handling of residents show conflicting results on LBP.6 This might be...