Association Between Farm Machinery Operation and Low Back Disorder in Farmers: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Issue 6 (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Essien, Samuel Kwaku; Bath, Brenna; Koehncke, Niels; Trask, Catherine
• Other Names: collaborator.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 58:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: e212
• Page End: e217
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000746
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The association between whole body vibration (WBV) as measured by annual accumulated use of all-terrain vehicles (ATV)/combine/tractor operation and low back disorders (LBDs) among farmers was investigated. Methods: Saskatchewan Farm Injury Cohort Study data was used. Baseline data were collected in 2007 on the three vehicle types and other factors. Follow-up data on LBD symptoms were collected during 2013 resulting in 1149 samples. Results: Adjusted for age, education, and gender, LBDs were associated with tractor operation for 1 to 150 hours/year (Relative Risk [RR] = 1.23, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.44), 151 to 400 hours/year (RR = 1.32, 95%CI 114 to 1.54) and 401+ hours/year (RR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.56). Additionally, hip symptoms were associated with tractor operation. Only unadjusted associations were found in combine and ATV operation. Conclusions: Duration of tractor operation and older age are important predictors of both low back and hip symptoms in farmers.