The relationship between low back pain and the basic lumbar posture at work: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between work-related lumbar posture (sitting, standing, walking, alternating posture) and LBP in workers.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study comprising 529 records of adult workers from a database of a private company. Predominant work-related lumbar posture was classified based on time spent in each posture. A total of 22 personal, occupational, clinical, and psychosocial covariates were evaluated. LBP symptoms in the last 12 months and during the last 7 days were the outcomes of the study. The multivariate analysis model evaluated the independent relationship between the work-related lumbar posture classification and other potential exposure factors with LBP.

RESULTS

The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that predominant walking reduced the likelihood to report LBP during the last 12 months when compared to standing (OR = 0.54; 95% CI 0.30, 0.99; p = 0.048), but there is no association between work-related postures and recent LBP. The adjusted analyses also revealed an association between LBP during the last 12 months and female sex, blue-collar task, frequently feeling tiredness, pain at any other body region previous 12 months, previous LBP, and monotonous work. Recent LBP was associated with female sex, pain at any other body region last 7 days, and previous LBP.

CONCLUSIONS

Standing posture increases the likelihood to report LBP during the last 12 months when compared to walking. LBP over previous year and during the previous 7 days was associated with personal and clinical factors.