Lifting Capacity As Prognostic Indicator of Hospital Back Injuries

A prospective longitudinal investigation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lifting strength measures and epidemiologic variables as predictors of future occupational back injury reports in a hospital population. Methods: a cohort of 1,011 hospital employees and new job applicants volunteered to participate in the study. Demographic and anthropometric data were recorded and the dynamic lifting strength of the subjects was evaluated using a standardized protocol. Subjects were then followed up for more than three years to record occurrence of back injuries. Descriptive statistics and survival analysis procedures were carried out, and a multivariate predictive model was constructed in a forward stepwise regression fashion. Results: three subjects reported a back injury due to the dynamic lifting testing and sought medical attention. During more than 3 years of follow-up observations, 35 subjects filed a back injury claim. Results indicated that subjects with greater lifting strength were significantly more at risk to sustain back injuries than weaker subjects.