Table 3

Physical workload and osteochondrosis or spondylosis of the lumbar spine with chronic complaints

VariableControlsOsteochondrosis or spondylosis with chronic complaints, with or without disc herniation“Pure” osteochondrosis or spondylosis with chronic complaints (cases with disc herniation excluded)
CasesAdjusted OR3-15095% CICasesAdjusted OR3-15095% CI
n%n%n%
Occupational groups (initial assessment):
 Always work with low physical workload9548.25925.81.02526.61.0
 >0–<10 y work with medium physical workload136.6219.22.30.9 to 5.666.42.20.6 to 8.0
 >0–<10 y work with high physical workload105.1187.93.21.2 to 8.399.63.30.9 to 12.3
 >10 y work with medium physical workload5125.94921.41.81.0 to 3.21819.11.20.5 to 2.7
 >10 y work with high physical workload2713.78235.86.23.3 to 11.83638.36.52.7 to 16.1
 Unknown10.5
Cumulated lifting/carrying (kg2×h):
 0 kg2×h6432.52310.01.088.51.0
 >0–10000 kg2×h4221.32812.22.11.0 to 4.51212.82.70.9 to 8.4
 >10000–150000 kg2×h4321.86026.23.71.8 to 7.72324.52.70.9 to 8.1
 >150000 kg2×h4321.811449.88.14.1 to 15.84952.18.53.1 to 23.2
 Unknown52.541.722.1
 p Value for trend3-151 p<0.00005p<0.00005
Extreme (>90° trunk flexion) forward bending (h):
 011960.49240.21.03739.41.0
 >0–1500 4522.85624.52.01.2 to 3.52021.31.30.6 to 3.1
 >1500199.67432.34.32.3 to 8.03436.23.51.5 to 7.9
 Unknown147.173.133.2
 p Value for trend3-151 p<0.00005p=0.003
Lifting or carrying combined with extreme forward bending (h):
 No lifting or carrying; no extreme forward bending5628.4187.91.066.41.0
 Lifting or carrying >0–150000 kg2×h or extreme forward bending >0–1500, or both7940.17733.63.21.6 to 6.63133.03.01.0 to 9.1
 Lifting or carrying >150000 kg2×h; extreme forward bending ⩽15003316.85624.56.63.0 to 14.52021.36.21.9 to 20.7
 Lifting or carrying ⩽150000 kg2×h; extreme forward bending >150094.6167.04.11.4 to 12.555.32.40.4 to 13.0
 Lifting or carrying >150000 kg2×h; extreme forward bending >1500105.15825.316.16.3 to 41.52930.918.24.8 to 68.4
 Unknown105.141.733.2
Sum lumbar spine force through lifting/carrying and/or extreme forward bending (Nh):
 05628.4187.91.066.41.0
 >0–<2.0×106 3919.83113.52.61.2 to 5.91313.83.00.9 to 10.0
 2.0–<9.0×106 4522.85222.74.21.9 to 9.22122.34.11.3 to 13.4
 >9.0×106 4723.912454.18.54.1 to 17.55154.37.12.4 to 21.2
 Unknown105.141.733.2
 p Value for trend3-151 p<0.00005p=0.003
Exposure to whole body vibration (h):
 013669.013358.11.05760.61.0
 >0–15003718.84620.10.90.5 to 1.71718.10.70.3 to 1.7
 >15002010.24419.21.60.8 to 3.31617.02.20.8 to 6.2
 Unknown42.062.644.3
 p Value for trend3-151 p=0.26p=0.29
Exposure to whole body vibration:
 0 h15277.215266.41.06468.11.0
 >0–1800 h×weighting factor3-152 2211.22611.41.20.6 to 2.599.60.70.3 to 2.2
 >1800 h×weighting factor3-152 199.64419.21.60.8 to 3.31617.02.00.7 to 5.4
 Unknown42.073.155.3
 p Value for trend3-151 p=0.14p=0.24
Sum lumbar spine exposure (α) to lifting, carrying, extreme forward bending, or whole body vibration:
 05527.9177.41.066.41.0
 <0.14422.33615.73.01.3 to 6.61414.92.90.9 to 9.5
 0.1–<0.44321.84720.53.81.7 to 8.41718.12.80.8 to 9.3
 ⩾0.44522.812454.19.24.4 to 19.25356.46.92.3 to 20.7
 Unknown115.652.244.3
 p Value for trend3-151 p<0.00005p=0.0004
Cumulative sedentary work (h):
 ⩽100005125.99039.31.03436.21.0
 >10000–300006734.06829.70.60.3 to 1.23133.00.80.3 to 1.8
 >300006432.56729.30.80.4 to 1.72728.70.60.2 to 1.8
 Unknown157.641.722.1
 p Value for trend3-151 p=0.40p=0.42
  • 3-150 Adjusted for age, region, nationality, and other diseases of the lumbar spine. Exposure to whole body vibration, sitting: additionally adjusted for sum lumbar spine force through lifting, carrying, or extreme forward bending.

  • 3-151 Exposure score included as a continuous variable in the logistic regression model.

  • 3-152 Weighting factor: 0 for smooth asphalt; 1 for damaged asphalt; 2 for cobbled streets; and 3 for rough terrain.