Does occupational forward bending of the back increase long-term sickness absence risk? A 4-year prospective...

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Biomechanics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Forward bending of the back is a known risk factor for sickness absence.
• Previous research relied on imprecise self-reported data for assessing forward bending.
• Objective measurement is needed to accurately quantify this occupational exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the dose-response relationship between device-measured forward bending at work and the risk of long-term sickness absence (LTSA).
• To establish a more precise understanding of the association between specific durations of forward bending and work absence.

Main Methods:

• 944 workers, primarily in blue-collar jobs, wore accelerometers to measure forward bending (>30° and >60°) during workdays.
• A 4-year follow-up period was used to track the first occurrence of LTSA (≥6 consecutive weeks) via national registers.
• Cox proportional hazard models were employed to analyze the association, adjusting for various confounders including leisure-time physical activity.

Main Results:

• Workers spent an average of 40 minutes (forward bending >30°) and 10 minutes (forward bending >60°) daily in the upright position.
• Each additional 5 minutes of forward bending (>30°) was associated with a 4% increased LTSA risk.
• Each additional 5 minutes of more extreme forward bending (>60°) was associated with an 8% increased LTSA risk, independent of leisure activity.

Conclusions:

• A clear dose-response association exists between device-measured forward bending at work and the prospective risk of LTSA.
• Findings support the integration of objective measurement tools for improved workplace risk assessment and prevention strategies.
• Accurate quantification of forward bending can lead to more effective interventions to reduce work-related sickness absence.