Research Plus

Nurses’ back pain prevention

A systematic review to assess the interventions to prevent back pain and back injury in nurses identified eight randomised controlled trials and eight nonrandomised controlled trials meeting inclusion criteria – only one of high quality. There is moderate evidence from multiple trials that manual-handling training in isolation is ineffective but that multidimensional interventions can be effective. A single trial of lumbar supports provides limited evidence of effectiveness, while a single study of a stress management programme was ineffective. There is conflicting evidence regarding exercise interventions and the provision of manual handling equipment and training.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2007; 64; 642–650.  http://oem.bmj.com/content/64/10/642.abstract

Tags back pain evidence based practice injuries at work

Occupational Health at Work December/January 2007/2008 (vol. 04/4) pp39