Low back pain and lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area, multifidus activation, and low back force in healthcare workers

Introduction: Healthcare workers are required to engage in repetitive actions when handling patients which leads to widespread low back pain in this population. Many variables are related to low back pain including repetitive motions and abnormal multifidus size and activation. This research sought to observe the relationship between low back pain and three variables in healthcare workers specifically: peak low back force when boosting a patient, multifidus cross-sectional area, and multifidus activation. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional, correlational study included 35 healthcare workers who currently work in inpatient hospital, acute hospital, or skilled nursing settings, and engage in patient handling as part of their job. Force and motion data were collected with motion capture and in-ground force plates and processed to estimate low back forces. Multifidus cross-sectional area was measured with ultrasound while activation was measured using surface electromyography. Results: There was not a significant difference in peak low back force between pain and nonpain groups. There was a significant difference in multifidus cross-sectional area at 2 of the 3 levels measured (L5 and S1). Lastly, there was not a significant difference in multifidus activation. Conclusions: Peak low back force during patient handling and lumbar multifidus activation do not seem to be a factor in pain in healthcare workers. Multifidus cross-sectional area is correlated with pain in this population indicating smaller multifidus may increase the likelihood of experiencing pain. Further work should be done to confirm this finding and offer potential solutions. Relevance to industry: Discovering factors in and ways to alleviate low back pain in healthcare workers is essential to the longevity of these professionals in their respective careers.

Automated summary

This study observed the relationship between low back pain and peak low back force, multifidus cross-sectional area, and multifidus activation in healthcare workers. The results showed that peak low back force and multifidus activation do not seem to be factors in low back pain, but multifidus cross-sectional area is correlated with pain, indicating that smaller multifidus may increase the likelihood of experiencing pain. This research is important for discovering and alleviating low back pain in healthcare workers to ensure their longevity in their careers.