[Usefulness of questionnaires in detection of early symptoms of sciatica and related pain syndromes of the lumbosacral region and determination of their incidence among workers of textile industry].

The study was aimed at the determination of sciatica case rate among cotton industry workers based on inquiry. Two questionnaires for detecting complaints typical of sciatica were developed. 2463 weavers and 3083 spinners were examined. A comparative group involved 978 shop attendants and 593 office workers. It was found out that pains characteristic of sciatica were experienced by 45% weavers, 43% shop attendants, 29.2% spinners, and 16% office workers. Results of physical examinations in randomly selected cases corresponded in 97% with the questionnaire data. In most cases pains resulted from overloading of the lower section of the vertebral column.