Spinal sagittal alignment, spinal shrinkage and back pain changes in office workers during a workday

Use of a Spinal Traction Device during Work Shift in Assembly Line Workers

Increasing back discomfort and spinal shrinkage during the workday is a problem that affects assembly line workers. The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of a spinal traction system on discomfort, spinal shrinkage, and spinal sagittal alignment in assembly line workers, who are in prolonged standing conditions during a workday. A total of 16 asymptomatic males were recruited to assess spinal shrinkage, spinal sagittal alignment, and back discomfort during the workday. The measurement was carried out in two days of work, a normal day, and the other using a spinal traction device utilized in two breaks during the workday. Assembly line workers lost height significantly on both control and intervention days. No differences were found between days. No changes were found in spinal sagittal alignment on the control day. Lumbar lordosis angle increased significantly at the end of the intervention day. The use of a spinal traction device during the workday in two breaks time did not significantly reduce the spinal shrinkage of healthy workers. Lumbar lordosis angle increased significantly at the end of the spinal traction intervention day. Prospective studies would be necessary to clarify the possible benefits of the traction device.

A cross-sectional analysis of the muscle strength, spinal shrinkage, and recovery during a working day of military police officers

OBJECTIVE

Military personnel has a large prevalence of back pain, especially those involved in patrolling routines, as they wear heavy protective equipment. Patrolling includes long periods of sustaining the protective equipment in a sitting or in a motor vehicle (motorcycle or car). Thus, understanding spinal loading of military police officers after patrolling by car (CAR; n = 14), motorcycle (MOT; n = 14), and administrative (ADM; n = 14) routines is relevant to establish preventive strategies.

METHODS

The torque of the trunk and working and anthropometric characteristics were assessed to explain spinal loading using stature variation measures. Precise stature measures were performed before and after a 6 h journey (LOSS) and 20 min after a resting posture (RECOV). The trunk extensor (PTE BM-1 ) and flexor (PTF BM-1 ) muscles' isometric peak torque were measured before the working journey.

RESULTS

The LOSS was similar between CAR and MOT (4.8 and 5.8 mm, respectively) after 6 h of patrolling. The ADM presented the lowest LOSS (2.8 mm; P < .05). No changes in RECOV between groups were observed (P > .05). Vibration may explain the greater spinal loading involved in patrolling in comparison to the ADM. A GLM analysis revealed that BMI was the only explanatory factor for stature loss. No independent variables explained RECOV. The ability of the trunk muscles to produce force did not influence LOSS or RECOV.

CONCLUSIONS

Military police officers involved in patrolling may require greater post-work periods and strategies designed to reduce the weight of the protective apparatus to dissipate spinal loading. The external load used in patrolling is a relevant spinal loading factor.