Physical characteristics of the back are not predictive of low back pain

Description: Physical characteristics of the back are not predictive of low back pain in healthy workers: A prospective study An Van Nieuwenhuyse , Geert Crombez , Alex Burdorf , Geert Verbeke , Raphael Masschelein , Guido Moens and Philippe Mairiaux BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2009, 10:2 (full text available)
In the working population, back disorders are the most frequently occurring problem of the musculoskeletal system and an important reason for sick leave and permanent work inability. In the context of fitting the job to the worker, one of the primary tasks of the occupational health physician is to evaluate the balance between work-related and individual variables. Since this evaluation of work capacity often consists of a physical examination of the back, the objective of this study was to investigate whether a physical examination of the low back, which is routinely performed in occupational medicine, predicts the development of low back pain (LBP).