Epidemiological Study of Low Back Pain and Occupational Risk Factors among Taxi Drivers

Abstract

A survey of taxi drivers was conducted to determine the actual situation of drivers' low back pain (LBP). The survey was carried out in October 2002, the target drivers were asked to complete a questionnaire which contains questions regarding physique of drivers, demographic features, working conditions, office environment, health conditions, the presence of low back pain, the level of low back pain based on Visual Analogue Scale and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score. As a result, the total number of valid responses was 1,334 and the response rate was 71 percent, and the 1-wk prevalence of LBP was 20.5 percent of respondents. Regarding 275 subjects with LBP, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) averaged 4.3. There was a positive weak correlation between VAS and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score (R=0.41). And Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between LBP and occupational factors, the results suggested following items as risk factors; such as history of LBP, suffering from fatigue, diseases other than LBP and smoking habit.

Evaluation of lumbar angles and their clinical correlates in a Nigerian population

“…The mean values of the height, HC, BMI and WHR were similar to the study by Andrews R et al 12 These values were higher than the values in the studies by Naidoo M and Miyamoto M, et al et al and may be explained by the fact that Africans as represented in this study and the study by Andrews R et al are bigger in stature than Asians as reported in the studies by Naidoo M and Miyamoto M, et al [12][13][14] The LSA in this study had a wide range and this may explain the difference in mean angles from various studies. 6,8,13,15,16 The mean LSA of our subjects was significantly higher than the mean value of 31.7 0 reported by Kim HS et al and 32.4 0 reported by Chung HJ et al 15,16 It was however significantly lower than the mean values in the studies by Fernard R et al (46.5 0 ) and Middleditch A et al (42.5 0 ).…”

Health and Safety Strategies of Urban Taxi Drivers

“…4 Assaults and violent acts resulting in lost work days are higher as well (3.7 assaults per 10,000 in taxi drivers compared to 2.4 per 10,000 workers in other occupations). 3 Musculoskeletal disorders are common 3,6,7,12,14 (68.4 musculoskeletal disorders per 100,000 drivers compared to 35.4 per 100,000 workers in other occupations). 3 Overall poor working conditions include long hours, high stress, and poor health status 2 as well as lack of health and workers' compensation insurance.…”

Menstrual Disorders and their Influence on Low Back Pain among Japanese Nurses

“…On the other hand however, other research has suggested that LBP is not related to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle nor to the use of Oral Contraceptives (OC) 14) . Back pain is known to be an increasingly common problem for the Japanese workforce 15) and has been studied epidemiologically in a variety of occupational fields such as construction workers 16) , taxi drivers 17) and school personnel [18][19][20] . The Japanese health care workforce is also known to suffer LBP, with previous research revealing high rates of musculoskeletal disorders among hospital nurses 6,8,21) and nursing home workers [22][23][24] .…”