An epidemiological study of selected risk factors associated with low back pain amongst refuse truck drivers in the eThekwini Municipality

Abstract

Motivation: Lower back pain (LBP) has been found to affect workers and often result in higher costs to industry than any other musculoskeletal disorder. Traditionally, the most widely investigated risk factors for LBP have been biomechanical demands of the job. By examining LBP, both its prevalence and distribution, it becomes possible to focus on contributory risk factors that bring on its onset.

Aim: To identify the selected risk factors associated with prevalence of LBP amongst refuse truck drivers in the eThekwini Municipality, and to evaluate the relationship between the selected risk factors and the prevalence of LBP.