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Med Lav 2013 Mar-Apr;104(2):126-40

Unità di ricerca Ergonomia della Postura e del Movimento - CEMOC - Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda - Ospedale Policlinico di Milano.

Background: The Basilicata Regional Headquarters of the Italian Institute for Insurance against Occupational Accidents and Disease (INAIL) and the Basilicata association of small building enterprises (Edilcassa di Basilicata) promoted a research project to assess the risk of manual lifting and manual transport in construction enterprises in the Basilicata Region and estimate the prevalence of related diseases.

Methods: Manual lifting risk assessment was performed by calculating the VLI of 204 working days in as many building workers. Manual transport risk assessment was carried out comparing the weights transported (on the 204 days tested) with the reference values of the "Snoock and Ciriello" tables. Read More

Spine J 2010 Dec;10(12):1086-8

Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA.

Commentary On: Pinski SE, King KB, Davidson BS, et al. High-frequency loading of lumbar ligaments increases proinflammatory cytokines expression in a feline model of repetitive musculoskeletal disorder. Spine J 2010:10:1078-85 (in this issue). Read More

Spine J 2010 Dec 12;10(12):1078-85. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Background Context: Cumulative (repetitive) lumbar disorder is common in the workforce, and the associated epidemiology points out high risk for lifting heavy loads, performing many repetitions, and performing movements at high velocity. Experimental verification of viscoelastic tissue degradation and a neuromuscular disorder exist for cyclic work under heavy loads. Experimental validation for a disorder because of cyclic loads under high-velocity movement is missing. Read More

Sports Med 2010 Oct;40(10):809-15

Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Campus, Sheffield, UK.

The 'crunch factor' is defined as the instantaneous product of lateral flexion and axial rotational velocity of the lumbar spine. It was originally implicated in the development of lumbar spine pathology and lower back pain in golfers and, although empirical evidence supporting or refuting the crunch factor is inconclusive, it remains an intuitively appealing concept that requires further investigation, not only in golf, but also in other sports involving hitting and throwing motions. This article considers whether the crunch factor might be instrumental in the aetiology of contralateral lumbar spine injuries sustained by cricket fast bowlers. Read More

Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2009 Dec 22;24(10):792-8. Epub 2009 Aug 22.

Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Health Sciences Center, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Background: Cumulative trauma disorder is commonly reported by workers engaged in prolonged repetitive/cyclic occupational activities. Recent experimental evidence confirms that relatively short periods of cyclic lumbar flexion at high loads result in substantial creep of viscoelastic tissues, prolonged periods of its recovery to baseline together with a neuromuscular disorder and exposure to instability. The biochemical process associated with the creep and neuromuscular disorder are not well explored. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2008 Jul;38(1):867-74

Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Laboratory, Bioengineering Division, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center, 12800 East 19th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.

Epidemiologic studies indicate that repetitive (cyclic) occupational activities lead to a cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), and the frequency or velocity of the movement is one of the risk factors. Experimental neurophysiological evidence to confirm the epidemiology is not available. The response of the multifidus muscles to cyclic loading in anterior lumbar flexion-extension was assessed to test the hypothesis that high-frequency loading may induce an acute neuromuscular disorder leading to CTD. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2007 Nov;49(11):1264-8

Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.

Objective: To assess outcomes for different times to the first independent medical evaluation (IME) for work-related lumbosacral sprain.

Methods: The 2005 West Virginia workers' compensation claims for "lumbosacral sprain" were used for our analyses. Outcomes included costs, maximal medical improvement status, number of IMEs performed, and the length of temporary total disability. Read More

J Sports Sci 2008 Feb;26(3):267-76

Physiotherapy, ECB National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.

Lower back injuries, specifically lumbar stress fractures, account for the most lost playing time in professional cricket. The aims of this study were to quantify the proportion of lower trunk motion used during the delivery stride of fast bowling and to examine the relationship between the current fast bowling action classification system and potentially injurious kinematics of the lower trunk. Three-dimensional kinematic data were collected from 50 male professional fast bowlers during a standing active range of motion trial and three fast bowling trials. Read More

Hum Factors 2007 Oct;49(5):820-9

Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

Objective: To study the influence of 10 min of cyclic twisting motion on abdominal and back muscle activities.

Background: Repetitive (cyclic) occupational activity was identified by many epidemiological reports to be a risk factor for the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Biomechanical and physiological confirmation, however, is lacking. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2004 Dec;29(23):2643-53

Occupational Medicine Research Center, Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, LA State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

Study Design: In vivo feline model subjected to variable number of repetitions of a short static lumbar flexion followed by an equally long rest period.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the number of repetitions as a risk factor in promoting a cumulative low back disorder in the feline model.

Summary Of Background Data: Epidemiologic data point out that the increased number of repetitions of static lumbar loading is a major risk factor in the development of cumulative low back disorder. Read More

Br J Sports Med 2004 Aug;38(4):502-4; discussion 502-4

University of Melbourne/South Sydney Sports Medicine, Australia.

This paper discusses the theory that subtle lumbosacral canal impingement of the L5 nerve root may be a relatively common occurrence in older footballers and may in fact be a common underlying basis for the age related predisposition towards hamstring and calf strains. Read More

J Sports Sci 2000 Dec;18(12):983-91

Department of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Here, I review research that has investigated the aetiology of injuries experienced by adolescent and adult fast bowlers. Mechanical factors play an important role in the aetiology of degenerative processes and injuries to the lumbar spine. This is particularly so in fast bowling, where a player must absorb vertical and horizontal components of the ground reaction force that are approximately five and two times body weight at front-foot and rear-foot impact, respectively. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2000 Nov;11(4):837-65

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA.

Axial back pain is commonly encountered by the sports medicine physician and has a variety of potential pain generators. Internal disc disruption is an important diagnosis to consider, particularly if there is a history of spinal trauma. The pathogenesis of IDD is not definitively known, although related theories exist. Read More

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 1999 Jun;50(2):189-92

Occupational Medicine Department, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna, Italy.

The aim of the study was to evaluate ultrasound technique in preemployment medical assessment of the risk for low-back pain. Volunteers for the study were recruited among agricultural workers employed in the "Agraria Department" of the University of Bologna, Italy. The group consisted of 90 subjects, 52 male and 38 female, aged 25 to 58 years. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1998 Dec;23(23):2563-73

Biomedical Engineering Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

Study Design: The effects of human trunk extensor muscle fatigue on the estimated trunk muscle forces and spinal loading were investigated during the performance of repetitive dynamic trunk extension.

Objective: To evaluate if alterations in the trunk muscle recruitment patterns resulted in a greater estimated active loading of the spine and, in turn, an increased risk of injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Epidemiologic studies highlight the increased risk of low back injury during repetitive lifting, implicating fatigue of muscles and/or passive tissues as causes of such injury. Read More

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1993 Nov;18(5):580-5

University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, Alberta, Canada.

While the incidence of injury in cross-country skiing remains relatively low, overuse problems affecting the lumbosacral region may be on the rise, particularly among elite athletes. In this study, a certified "Part A" (Canadian Physiotherapy Association) manual therapist performed lumbosacral physical assessments on 18 elite cross-country skiers and 15 normal subjects. Results indicated sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction occurred significantly more often in the skier population (p < 0. Read More

J Bone Joint Surg Am 1990 Oct;72(9):1286-93

Maine Medical Assessment Foundation, Manchester.

Orthopaedists and other physicians in Maine organized the Maine Medical Assessment Foundation to deal with the problem of variations in the rates of hospitalization for orthopaedic conditions. Five musculoskeletal injuries and five orthopaedic procedures were selected for study. The variation in decision-making by orthopaedists was least for fractures of the ankle and fractures of the hip and was greatest for fractures of the forearm, derangement of the knee, and lumbosacral sprain. Read More

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic 1990 May;57(5):385-92

Centre Clinique Rhumatologique, Grenoble.

The authors report the study of a series of 23 partial isthmic lyses which occurred in a young population (15 cases) and in an adult one (8 cases) between 1983 and 1988, in the form of persistent lumbosacral pains. The initial radiological signs, the key to an early diagnosis, are defined: cortical notches more often regarding the lower cortex than the upper one, incomplete fissures reaching the two cortical poles, gradual narrowing of the isthmus. The value of standard radiography is underlined, with the oblique incidences close to the profile regularly ensuring the diagnosis, with the exception of 4 cases out of 23 for which tomography was required. Read More

Am J Sports Med 1982 Jan-Feb;10(1):1-5

Eighty young athletes with weight training-related injuries were seen from August 1976 to August 1980. In 37 of the 80 athletes, it was difficult to pinpoint the cause of injury since the history revealed, in addition to weight training, either a program of running excessive mileage or participation in repetitive lap running in the gymnasium. The injuries of the remaining 43 athletes had a direct causal relationship to the weight training program. Read More

JAMA 1980 Oct;244(15):1673-4

Lancet 1978 May;1(8073):1090-2

Semin Arthritis Rheum 1974 ;3(4):349-68

Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic 1951 Nov;18(11):626-30