Occupational long-term whole-body vibration (WBV) has been recognized as a major risk factor for low back disorders, one of the most important reasons for medical impairment and early permanent disability among mass transit operators.
The worldwide prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is reflected in increasing costs, [ 1- 3] occupational injury, and long term disability [ 1, 2, 4, 5].
Long term occupational exposure to organic solvents may induce chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE), characterized by mild to severe cognitive impairment, generally seen as the key diagnostic feature.
In a longitudinal study, the dose response relationships between long term occupational exposure to whole-body vibration and degenerative processes in the lumbar spine caused by the lumbar disks were examined.
Knowledge is lacking too concerning prognostic variables like pain at multiple anatomical sites and occupational factors on the long term.
For men in particular, occupational group seems to affect the disparity between those with and without limiting long term illness; "lower" occupational groups are associated with wider and more quickly increasing disparities.
To our knowledge, this is the first example of study on long term non-occupational exposure to a specific organic pollutant such as ß HCH.
Previous studies have reported the long term effects of occupational exposure on low back pain.
For women, rates of economic inactivity have decreased over the long term within each occupational group for those without limiting long term illness but have remained at relatively constant levels throughout for those with limiting illness.
We wanted here to present descriptive data raising questions on the long term effects of occupational exposure on LBP rather than quantify these effects.
15 Similarly, Mozley and colleagues found little or no evidence that occupational therapy reduces depression, dependency, or long term institutionalisation in elderly care home residents, 16 and Mulrow and colleagues found that physiotherapy provided only modest mobility benefits in very frail long stay US nursing home residents with physical disabilities.
