Affiliations: [a]
“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania
| [b] Fast Fizio Clinic, Timisoara, Romania
| [c]
“Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania
| [d]
Municipal Clinical Emergency Hospital Timisoara, Romania
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Florina Georgeta Popescu, MD, PhD, Occupational Health Senior specialist, Lecturer “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania, 2 Eftimie Murgu Square, Timisoara, Romania. Tel.: +40 74 53 84 732; E-mail: gflorinag@yahoo.com.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Modern society work implies computer-based activities generating back pain because of prolonged sitting positions and non-ergonomic postures. OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study was to analyse the back-pain characteristics in a group of office workers in comparison with potential risk factors. METHODS:The design of the study was retrospective; a group of 109 computer workers with back pain was selected from a private physiotherapy unit between Jan 2018 - Dec 2019. Anthropometric, occupational and behaviour data, symptoms, the diagnosis on the first visit, previous medical diagnosis and specific physical activities were collected from medical records. RESULTS:The studied group (research sample) is formed of information technology operators, engineers and economists, had the mean age 38.91±10.25, with 14.04±9.12 years seniority at work. Most of them addressed to the physiotherapist directly, or they were referred by their family physician; 60% had MRI investigation on the first physiotherapy visit with no medical referral or diagnosis. The symptoms were not reported to the occupational physician. The back pain appeared independent of BMI; the low back pain had higher prevalence in males. Patients reported 6 months of back pain in 57,8% of all cases. The pain was favoured by continuous activity, more than 4 hours, in the sitting posture. CONCLUSIONS:A complex and interdisciplinary team that included an occupational physician, an ergonomist and a physiotherapist could prevent and control back pain in computer workers. Workplace conditions adaptation, proper physiotherapy and periodical medical check-ups could improve the health status of these workers.
Keywords: Back pain, computer working, physiotherapy, ergonomics, occupational health
