Effect of training and lifting equipment for preventing back pain in lifting and handling: systematic review
BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39463.418380.BE (Published 21 February 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:429
- Kari-Pekka Martimo, medical specialist1,
- Jos Verbeek, team leader2,
- Jaro Karppinen, medical specialist3,
- Andrea D Furlan, associate scientist4,
- Esa-Pekka Takala, medical specialist1,
- P Paul F M Kuijer, senior researcher5,
- Merja Jauhiainen, information specialist6,
- Eira Viikari-Juntura, research professor1
- 1Musculoskeletal Disorders Group, Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
- 2Knowledge Transfer in Occupational Health and Safety Group, Centre of Expertise for Good Practices and Competence, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, Finland
- 3Musculoskeletal Disorders Group, Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland
- 4Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Canada
- 5Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- 6Knowledge Transfer in Occupational Health and Safety Group, Centre of Expertise for Good Practices and Competence, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence to: K P Martimo kari-pekka.martimo{at}ttl.fi
- Accepted 27 November 2007
Abstract
Objectives To determine whether advice and training on working techniques and lifting equipment prevent back pain in jobs that involve heavy lifting.
Data sources Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, Cochrane Back Group’s specialised register, CINAHL, Nioshtic, CISdoc, Science Citation Index, and PsychLIT were searched up to September-November 2005.
Review methods The primary search focused on randomised controlled trials and the secondary search on cohort studies with a concurrent control group. Interventions aimed to modify techniques for lifting and handling heavy objects or patients and including measurements for back pain, consequent disability, or sick leave as the main outcome were considered for the review. Two authors independently assessed eligibility of the studies and methodological quality of those included. For data synthesis, we summarised the results of studies comparing similar interventions. We used odds ratios and effect sizes to combine the results in a meta-analysis. Finally, we compared the conclusions of the primary and secondary analyses.
Results Six randomised trials and five cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Two randomised trials and all cohort studies were labelled as high quality. Eight studies looked at lifting and moving patients, and three studies were conducted among baggage handlers or postal workers. Those in control groups received no intervention or minimal training, physical exercise, or use of back belts. None of the comparisons in randomised trials (17 720 participants) yielded significant differences. In the secondary analysis, none of the cohort studies (772 participants) had significant results, which supports the results of the randomised trials.
Conclusions There is no evidence to support use of advice or training in working techniques with or without lifting equipment for preventing back pain or consequent disability. The findings challenge current widespread practice of advising workers on correct lifting technique.
Introduction
Heavy lifting at work increases the risk of back pain.1 Optimal working techniques are encouraged to prevent back pain and injuries when lifting heavy loads or patients cannot be avoided.2 3 In addition, lifting equipment has been developed to relieve some of the workload.
Back pain is highly prevalent. The resulting disability has enormous consequences in terms of distress and economic costs of absence from work and reduced productivity.4 Employers must ensure that workers receive proper training and information on how to handle loads correctly and the risks to which they might be exposed.5 Specific techniques have been advocated to reduce the load on the back.6 7
Earlier reviews on occupational interventions have questioned the role of education in the prevention of work related back pain. 8 9 Even though primary studies have found no effect of training on the incidence of back pain, this could be incidental or caused by small sample size. We therefore carried out a review following the systematic and more rigorous Cochrane methods in searching the literature, selecting interventions and study designs, and combining the results.
Methods
Searching
With the primary focus on randomised controlled trials, we used the search strategy developed by the Cochrane back review group.10 From August to November 2005 we searched Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, the back group’s specialised register, CINAHL, Nioshtic, CISdoc, Science Citation Index, and PsychLIT. Detailed search strategies are given elsewhere.11 We considered trials reported in any language.
In a secondary analysis using relevant cohort studies with concurrent control groups, we applied the sensitive search strategy for occupational health intervention studies12 in Medline until November 2005.
Selection, validity assessment, and data abstraction
Two authors (EPT, JK) screened the obtained titles and abstracts for eligibility. Eligible studies were those that aimed to modify the participants’ lifting techniques at work and measured back pain, consequent disability, or sickness absence as the main outcomes.
Two other authors (KPM, JV) independently assessed methodological quality of the randomised trials using the criteria and classification recommended by the Cochrane back review group.10 Studies were considered as high quality if more than half of the criteria were fulfilled. For the appraisal of cohort studies we used another instrument validated for non-randomised studies.13 Disagreements between assessments were resolved by discussion until consensus was reached. KPM and JV also independently extracted the data as recommended by the Cochrane back review group.10
Study characteristics
Our primary analysis was based on evidence from randomised trials only. In the secondary analysis using the cohort studies, we summarised the results of each comparison in a qualitative manner. Thereafter, we compared the conclusions from the primary and secondary analyses.
Quantitative data synthesis
For studies that did not adjust for cluster randomisation, we calculated the design effect based on a fairly large assumed intracluster correlation of 0.10,14 following the methods stated in the Cochrane handbook.15 We categorised the length of follow-up as short term (less than three months), intermediate (three to 12 months) or long term (more than 12 months). This classification is used for the description of the results.
For comparisons with dichotomous outcomes and sufficient data, we plotted the adjusted results of each trial as odds ratios. For comparisons with similar interventions but with both dichotomous and continuous outcome measurements, we calculated an effect size based on the logarithm of the odds ratio for studies with dichotomous outcomes, and on the standardised mean difference for studies with continuous outcomes.16 We combined the odds ratios of studies that compared similar interventions and measured back pain or back injury at a similar follow-up time. We combined effect sizes of studies with similar interventions that measured sickness absence rate or disability score at a similar follow-up time by using the generic inverse variance method. For both meta-analyses we used the software as implemented in RevMan 4.2.
Results
Trial flow
With our primary search strategy we found 3547 titles in nine databases. The sensitive search strategy provided 47 additional titles and a manual search provided another 17. From these 3611 articles, we closely evaluated 101 (fig 1)⇓. Eighty nine articles did not meet the inclusion criteria. Two articles reported on the same study.w1 w2 Consequently, we included 11 studies in the review.
Study characteristics
Four of the included studies were cluster randomised,w3-w6 two were individually randomised,w7 w8 and five were cohort studies.w1 w9-w12 Table 1 shows the characteristics of the included studies.⇓
Characteristics of included studies
Three randomised trialsw4 w6 w7 and all five cohort studies involved care of patients. One trial studied postal workers,w3 and two studied baggage handlers.w5 w8 The number of participants in randomised trials varied from 51 to 12 772, and the follow-up time from six months to 5.5 years. The numbers in the cohort studies varied from 45 to 345, and the follow-up times ranged from eight weeks to two years.
We had originally intended to include only prevention studies with workers without back pain. This proved to be impractical because there were always some workers with back pain at baseline. We therefore included studies with workers who were not actively seeking treatment for current back pain. In all jobs studied, the participants had enough strain on the back such that effective interventions could result in alleviation of symptoms.
The training interventions (table 2)⇓ focused on lifting techniques, with duration varying from a single sessionw6 w8 w11 to training once a week for two years.w12 In three studies the training was supported by follow-up and feedback at the workplace.w1 w3 w12 The advocated lifting techniques were not described in detail. Three studies clearly indicated the involvement of supervisors,w3 w11 w12 and five studies encouraged participants to use available lifting aids.w1 w6 w10 w11 w12 Most studies used a professional instructor.w1 w3 w5 w8 w10 w11
Details of interventions in studies aimed at preventing back injury and pain caused by lifting and handling patients or heavy objects
Five studies monitored compliance with the instructions and with the use of lifting equipment.w5 w6 w9 w11 w12 The results indicated positive changes in lifting techniquein three studies and marginal or no changes in two studies. Daltroy et al reported separately that the intervention resulted in increased knowledge but not in significant improvement in lifting and handling technique.17
Two randomised trialsw3 w5 and all cohort studies were classed as high quality (table 1). ⇑ Full details can be found elsewhere.11
Quantitative data synthesis
Comparison between the groups that received training or no intervention in two randomised trials indicated that there was no difference in back pain (odds ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 1.81) or related disability (effect size 0.04, −0.50 to 0.58) at intermediate follow-up (figs 2 and 3).⇓ ⇓w5 w6 The same result was obtained in another randomised trial,w8 which we did not include in the meta-analysis because insufficient data were reported (table 3)⇓. One randomised trial showed no effect on back pain at long term follow-up (odds ratio 1.07, 0.06 to 17.96) (fig 4).⇓w4 The results of three cohort studies supported those of the randomised studies at short termw10 w11 and long term follow-upw1 (table 3).⇓
Fig 2 Meta-analyses of two trials (adjusted for effect of clustering) on advice on lifting and handling compared with no advice in prevention of back pain or back injury at intermediate follow-up
Fig 3 Meta-analyses of two trials (adjusted for effect of clustering) on advice on lifting and handling compared with no advice in prevention of back related disability or sickness absence at intermediate follow-up
Results of included studies by study design, methodological quality, study comparison, main outcome, and length of follow-up
Fig 4 Odds ratios of trials (adjusted for effect of clustering) that studied advice and training with or without lifting equipment (devices) to prevent back pain or back injury at intermediate or long term follow-up
One randomised trial found no effect of training on back pain compared with minor advice (video) at long term follow-up (odds ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 2.08) (fig 4)⇑.w3 This was supported by the results of two cohort studies that used in-house orientation or less extensive training as the control interventions (table 3).⇑w9 w12
One randomised trial found no significant difference in back pain with training compared with use of back belts at intermediate follow-up (table 3).⇑w8 Another randomised trial had similar conclusions at long term follow-up (1.04, 0.06 to 17.38) (fig 4).⇑w4
One randomised trial that compared training with physical exercise found no difference in back pain at intermediate follow-up (table 3).⇑w7 The results of one cohort study supported the conclusions at short term follow-up (table 3).⇑w10
A comparison of a group receiving training and lifting equipment with the groups receiving training only or no intervention at all in one randomised trial showed no difference in back pain at intermediate follow-up of either comparison (0.42, 0.04 to 4.99) (fig 4).⇑w6 There was also no difference in back related disability (table 3).⇑
Discussion
In this systematic review we found no evidence that training with or without lifting equipment is effective in the prevention of back pain or consequent disability. Either the advocated techniques did not reduce the risk of back injury or training did not lead to adequate change in lifting and handling techniques.
Strengths and limitations
We included only studies with designs that are the least susceptible to bias. In addition, we compared these results with those of studies with less valid study designs. There were no differences in conclusions between the analyses from studies with different designs or with different types of lifting and handling.
The measurement of the outcomes in the primary studies varied, leading to considerable differences in the incidences of back pain (Kraus et al reported 1.28 back injuries per 100 person years,w4 Yassi et al reported 7.4 back related injuries per 100 person years,w6 and van Poppel et al reported 70 cases of self reported back pain per 100 person yearsw5). Another limitation was that we could not extract the data needed from all studies, limiting the possibilities of pooling data. In addition, we had to adjust the results of most of the studies for the effect of the cluster randomisation that was not taken into account by the authors.
Interpretation
The actual number of participants in the eligible randomised trials was 17 720. After adjustment for the unit of analysis error, the effective sample size was 2727. The confidence intervals show that we cannot exclude the possibility that the studies and the review lacked the power to detect a small but possibly relevant difference in incidence. It is, however, highly unlikely that pooling the results of more studies would have led to a significant beneficial effect. This is because almost all studies showed an odds ratio that was near to 1, and the applied comparisons were all quite similar, especially as use of a back belt can be considered equal to no intervention in the prevention of back pain.18 Only one study showed a more positive, but still non-significant, outcome.w6 This could be because the type of the intervention was different (“no strenuous lifting”).
One explanation for the lack of an effect could be that the intervention was not appropriate. According to Burke et al, as training methods become more engaging, workers acquire more knowledge and the numbers of injuries falls.19 Accordingly, we classified the training methods based on learners’ participation, but we did not find a more positive outcome for studies that involved more intense training methods.
The risk of back pain might be related not to incorrect handling techniques but to other work related factors inherent in the populations studied (such as non-neutral, bent, or rotated trunk postures without lifting or handling, or psychosocial strain). We were unable to test this hypothesis, however, because none of the studies described the context of the intervention in sufficient detail to enable further analysis.
Two randomised controlled trials that lend support to our results have been published recently. One showed no effect on back pain of training in transfer techniques among those looking after elderly people after two years’ follow-up.20 In the other trial, behaviour based training on lifting in a distribution centre did not result in a difference in rates of back injury during one year of follow-up.21
Many health professionals are involved in training and advising workers on lifting and handling. Even though there may be other reasons to continue this practice, this review does not provide evidence that it prevents back pain. There is a need for more and high quality research with standardised outcome measurement, appropriate power, and adjustment for the cluster effect. Such studies should be directed at a “no lifting policy.” Also we need a better understanding of the causal chain between exposure to biomechanical stressors at work and the subsequent development of back pain to enable the development of new and innovative ways to prevent back pain.
What is already known on this topic
Training in correct working techniques and lifting equipment are widely used to manage the increased risk of back pain related to repeated heavy lifting and handling
The effectiveness of these interventions has been questioned
What this study adds
There is no evidence that advice on lifting and handling with or without lifting equipment prevents back pain or consequent disability
Footnotes
We thank the Cochrane Occupational Health Field for organising and supporting this review. We also thank John Wiley for permission to publish this paper, which is based on a Cochrane review.11
Contributors: K-PM organised the daily project activities, did the data extraction, wrote drafts of the review, and is guarantor. JV had the idea for the project, organised funding, performed the data extraction and statistical analyses, and is guarantor. MJ developed and performed the literature searches. JK and E-PT carried out the selection of references and provided input on drafts of the paper. PPFMK, ADF, and EV-J contributed to the data extraction and provided scientific input on the drafts of the paper.
Funding: Commonwealth of Australia as represented by and acting through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (OASCC) is the direct supporter and is part of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and supports the Australian Safety and Compensation Council.
Competing interests: None declared.
Ethical approval: Not required.
Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.