Ongoing Projects

Dr. Kurt Hegmann, Dr. Matthew Thiese, Dr. Andrew Merryweather, Dr. Eric Wood

Occupational Injury Prevention, Ergonomics and Safety, Occupational Medicine

This is a prospective cohort study of more than 800 workers from 30 employers in four states (IL, UT, TX, WI) with involvement of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Texas A&M University to: 1) determine baseline low back pain (LBP) prevalence rates, 2) quantify job and individual risk factors, 3) validate existing job analysis methods, and 4) develop models for predicting risk of LBP. The study primarily addressed LBP but included severity measures including pain ratings, health care, light duty, and lost time. The research team was divided into three blinded teams: 1) health assessment team, 2) job assessment team, and 3) data management and statistical analysis team.

The cohort completed baseline questionnaires, structured interviews, standardized physical exams, and anthropometric measurements. Job physical measures included object weights, forces, pushing force, pulling force, lifting rates, horizontal lift distances, and vertical lift distances. Workers were contacted monthly for changes in LBP symptoms, new symptoms development, and physical exams. Jobs were remeasured when there were significant changes.

This cohort study has resulted in many important discoveries.

Publications (some of 15): 

• The NIOSH lifting equation and low-back pain, Part 1: Association with low-back pain in the backworks prospective cohort study
• The NIOSH lifting equation and low-back pain, Part 2: Association with seeking care in the backworks prospective cohort study
• Association between lifting and use of medication for low back pain: results from the Backworks Prospective Cohort Study
• Study protocol title: a prospective cohort study of low back pain