ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2021
Manual handling of heavy loads and low back pain among different occupational groups: results of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluating Exoskeletons for WMSD Prevention: A Systematic Review of Applications and Ergonomic Approach in Occupational Settings.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Pooled it
- Review
- Biomechanical differences in lower limb movements during lifting tasks before and after fatigue.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Article
- Sociodemographic differences in low back pain: which subgroups of workers are most vulnerable?BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Physical working conditions over time: a repeated cross-sectional study in German employees.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2024Article
- Musculoskeletal disorders and incongruous postures in workers on ropes: A pilot study.Journal of public health research · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Germany and other European countries, many occupations still involve manual handling of loads (MHL), an activity that puts the musculoskeletal system at risk of low back pain (LBP). This study aims to describe the current prevalence of MHL in different occupational groups stratified by gender in Germany, the association between MHL and LBP and the adjusted prevalence of LBP in different respond-categories of MHL.
methodsData was collected in telephone interviews conducted as part of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey, which covers work-related topics like working conditions, education, health status and job satisfaction. The analyses were limited to full-time workers (> 35 h/week) aged between 15 and 67. The frequency of MHL was analysed descriptively. BLOSSFELD classification was used to group the participants in occupational categories. The analysis of the association between MHL and the prevalence of LBP over the last 12 months was based on robust log-linear Poisson regression that results in prevalence ratios (PR). The main regression model was adjusted for gender, age, working hours, and working conditions. Adjusted estimates for the prevalence of LBP were calculated based on regression analysis.
resultsThe sample consists of n = 14,331 participants (men: n = 8828, 61.6%; women: n = 5503, 38.4%; median age 49 years). Of these, 52.8% say they were exposed to MHL at work. MHL is most common in agricultural occupations, skilled and unskilled occupations. In the regression model, participants who said they were "often" exposed to MHL reported more frequently LBP than those participants who said they were "never" exposed to MHL. The PR as estimate for the association is 1.41 (95%CI [1.32; 1.49]). Postestimation of the prevalence of LBP began with 47.3% (95%CI [43.8%; 51.1%]) for participants who said they were "never" exposed to MHL and rose to 66.5% (95%CI [62.4%; 71.0%]) for participants who indicated they were "often" exposed to MHL.
conclusionsThe 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey emphasizes that MHL is still common in the German workforce and shows a significant association to LBP. Prevention policies for avoiding MHL remain vital.
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