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Udo, Hiroshi and Tanida, Hidenori
Dept. of Public Health, Hiroshima University School
of Medicine
Introduction: The industrial medical doctors in this Japanese
study say "preventive counter-measures for low back pain
can be largely classified as: environmental control, work control,
health control and hygiene education." While they believe
environmental control is most important, these types of countermeasures
are difficult to make in all kinds of work. As one of these measures,
the authors used a low back pain preventive belt they designed
and studied its effects on lower back pain among rolling roller
changing workers at an iron plant.
Survey Object and Method: All 33 male workers at an iron and
steel making plant were selected to participate in this two-month
study wearing the belts. The average age of the workers was 47.7
years. They frequently bend in half-crouch and crouch positions
as they change rollers following every lot of plate being rolled.
Conclusions: Major results of the study were:
1. Lower back pain "inspected results" in the second
month of belt wear showed an improvement from 69% to 58.6%.
2. Lower back region "motion pain" evaluation score
indicated an improvement trend.
3. Forty percent of the subjects with prior lower back pain
said their pain improved slightly.
4. A load alleviation of 50% was reported by the group which
had prior low back pain while one-third of those without such
pain reported a "load alleviating effect."
5. A complaint by 65.5% of the subjects was the belt used
in this study slid up.
6. Lower back pain prevention and improvement can be expected
for the preventive belt even during a long period of time.
"Lower back pain prevention and improvement can
be expected using a back support belt even during a long period
of time."
Hiroshi Udo, MD
Study conducted September 1990 to March 1991. Results presented
in 1991 at Japan Industrial Hygiene Society Lumbago Study Group
and Chungoku and Shikoku Districts Joint Industrial Hygiene Society.
(Review approved by Dr. Udo, July 1996.)
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