An epidemiological study of the relationship between occupations and acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs

A case-control study of the epidemiology of acute herniated lumbar intervertebral discs in the New Haven, Connecticut, area indicates that sedentary occupations increase the risk for herniated lumbar discs, particularly among those aged 35 years and older who have had sedentary jobs for several years. People in occupations requiring prolonged driving of motor vehicles, such as truck drivers, appear to be at particularly high risk. The results of this study provide no evidence that people whose jobs involve heavy manual labour are at greater risk for acute herniated lumbar disc than others of their age and sex.