A Study of Farming and Low Back Pain Development in Mountainous Rural Area in Shizuoka Prefecture / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The people who work in mountainous area were studied for low back pain and to clarify the relationship between the labor on hill side and the symptom development.<BR>The study performed employing questionnaires about daily life profile and about low back pain, and lumbar spine x-ray examination.<BR>The difference between farmers and non-farmers were specifically looked for.<BR>The labor in season (May-July), and out of season (February) were also compared using diary for low back pain and the symptom development pursued.<BR>The results showed below.<BR>1. Those who developed low back dysfunction were 15-20%. The incidence increased up to 50 to 60% when they were followed for 1 year. There's been no increase in this rate for the past 10 years.<BR>2. Farmers were 66.1% of 127 people, ages between 20 and 69. 81 of them (63.8%) had episodes of low back pain during 1 year period.<BR>3. 50% of those who had low back pain attributed its cause to stooping, bending forward and lifting heavy weights.<BR>4. In males, working hours and low back pain development had relevance. The symptom development in season, and out of season showed no difference.<BR>In females, the workdays had a major influence.<BR>5. The people in their 50s, in whom farmers were predominant, showed high symptom development and the difference between farmers and non-farmers were clearly identified in this age group. But as a whole, farmer or non-farmer, male or female were not determinant factors.<BR>6. Low back pain were attributed to muscle syndromes (39.6%). discogenic low back pain (33.3%), Spondylosis deformance (22.9%), and others (4.2%)