Static Balance Modification during the Workday in Assembly Chain Workers with and without Current Low Back Pain
Ana Vanessa Bataller-Cervero1, Cristina Cimarras-Otal1, Luis Enrique Roche-Seruendo1
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, 50830 Villanueva de Gállego, Spain.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|October 14, 2020
Summary
Workers with low back pain (LBP) did not exhibit greater static balance deterioration during the workday compared to those without pain. Prolonged standing in assembly line work did not significantly worsen balance in LBP individuals.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Biomechanics
- Ergonomics
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent issue for assembly line workers due to prolonged static standing and load handling.
- Impaired postural control is linked to LBP, potentially affecting balance in this occupational group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of prolonged standing work on static balance in assembly line workers.
- To compare balance parameter changes throughout the workday in workers with and without LBP.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a pressure platform to assess sway in 22 manufacturing plant workers (17 with LBP, 5 without).
- Balance was measured at three time points: before, during, and after the workday.
- Analyzed static balance parameters, including medial-lateral center of pressure displacement.
Main Results:
- No significant pre-work balance differences were found between workers with and without LBP.
- A significant decrease in medial-lateral center of pressure displacement (eyes open) was observed in workers with LBP between pre- and mid-workday measures.
Conclusions:
- Workers with LBP did not demonstrate a greater deterioration in static balance compared to their pain-free counterparts during the workday.
- The study suggests that prolonged standing in assembly line work does not disproportionately affect static balance in individuals with LBP.
