Low back pain disorders and exposure to whole-body vibration in the workplace

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Bovenzi, Massimo¹

Low back pain disorders and exposure to whole-body vibration in the workplace

Semin Perinatol. February 1996;20(1):38-53

©1996 W.B. Saunders Company

Affiliations

¹Institute of Occupational Health, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Abstract

Occupational exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) and postural stress in a driving environment may contribute to an increased risk for low back pain (LBP) disorders. In two epidemiological studies of bus drivers and tractor drivers, LBP disorders were found to be associated with age, back accidents, cumulative WBV dose, and postural overload. A review of the literature showed that the exposure-response relationship for WBV and injuries to the lower back is n o t fully clarified. There is a shortage of information on the health risk from WBV in female workers. Because it is estimated that several thousand women are exposed to intense WBV in the workplace, the health effects o f WBV on female reproductive organs and vertebral column should be carefully investigated.
Links

DOI: 10.1016/S0146-0005(96)80056-5

PubMed: 8899913

WoS: A1996UT55600006

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2003	Cann AP, Salmoni AW, Vi P, Eger TR. An exploratory study of whole-body vibration exposure and dose while operating heavy equipment in the construction industry. Appl Occup Environ Hyg. December 2003;18(12):999-1005.
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2013	Eger TR, Kociolek AM, Dickey JP. Comparing health risks to load-haul-dump vehicle operators exposed to whole-body vibration using EU Directive 2002/44EC, ISO 2631-1 and ISO 2631-5. Minerals. 2013;3(1):16-35.
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2004	Cann AP, Salmoni AW, Eger TR. Predictors of whole-body vibration exposure experienced by highway transport truck operators. Ergonomics. October 22, 2004;47(13):1432-1453.
1999	Bovenzi M, Hulshof CTJ. An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain (1986–1997). Int Arch Occup Environ Health. September 1999;72(6):351-365.
2021	Jalali P, Ettefagh MM, Hassannejad R. Recognizing the viscoelastic safe area of work shoe sole in the sitting posture with vibration transmissibility in the vertical direction. Int J Ind Ergon. January 1, 2021;81:103053.
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2021	Tarabini M, Eger T, Goggins K, Moorhead AP, Goi F. Effect of the shoe sole on the vibration transmitted from the supporting surface to the feet. Vibration. 2021;4(4):743-758.
2010	Dickey JP, Eger TR, Oliver ML. A systematic approach to simulating field-based occupational whole-body vibration exposure in the lab using a 6df robot. Work. 2010;35(1):15-26.
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2010	Hanumanthareddygari V. Neuromotor Response to Whole Body Vibration Transmissibility in the Horizontal Direction and Its Mathematical Model [Master's thesis]. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; 2010.
2012	Malakieh J. Alterations to Proprioception, Neuromuscular Function and Control After Vibration and Exercise [Master's thesis]. Sudbury, ON: Laurentian University; 2012.
2016	Killen W. Evaluation of a Vibration Measurement Tool as Part of a Whole-Body Vibration Management Program in Underground Hard-Rock Mining [Master's thesis]. Sudbury, ON: Laurentian University; 2016.
2018	Leduc MG. Vibration Toolkit: An Occupational Health Education Intervention for the Mining Industry [PhD thesis]. Sudbury, ON: Laurentian University; 2018.
2020	Kanya-Forstner M. Assessing Whole-Body Vibration Transmissibility in Children’s Bicycle Trailers [Master's thesis]. Sudbury, ON: Laurentian University; 2020.
2019	Maugeri S. Modelling the Response of the Human Feet to Vertical Whole-Body Vibration [Master's thesis]. Lecco, Italy: Politecnico Di Milano; 2019.
2011	Muir JW. Evaluating the Potential of Low Magnitude Mechanical Signals as a Means of Preserving Postural Control in the Aged and Disabled [PhD thesis]. Stony Brook, NY: Stony Brook University; August 2011.
2012	Jack RJ. Investigating Whole-Body Vibration Injuries in Forestry Skidder Operators: Combining Operator Vibration Exposures and Postures in the Field With Biodynamic Responses in the Laboratory [PhD thesis]. Guelph, ON: University of Guelph; January 2012.
2014	Wegscheider P. Development and Assessment of a Virtual Reality Forklift Simulator as a Research Tool to Study Whole-Body Vibration [Master's thesis]. University of Western Ontario; 2014.
2015	Ji X. Evaluation of Suspension Seats Under Multi-Axis Vibration Excitations: A Neural Net Model Approach to Seat Selection [PhD thesis]. University of Western Ontario; 2015.
2020	Dietze B. Comparison of Whole-Body Vibration Attenuation Properties Between Active and Passive Suspension Seats [Master's thesis]. University of Western Ontario; 2020.