Forklifts are prone to “rough riding”, resulting in high levels of whole-body vibration [Image: Spencer Davis on Unsplash]
Occupational health expert David McBride looks at the issue of low back pain associated with occupations that expose people to high levels of whole-body vibration
References
1. WorkSafe. Whole body vibration – information for businesses. March 2021.
2. Accident Compensation Act 2001 (NZ). Section 30.
3. Wahlström J, Burström L, Johnson PW, et al. Exposure to whole-body vibration and hospitalization due to lumbar disc herniation. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018;91(6):689–94.
4. Battié MC, Videman T, Gibbons LE, et al. Occupational driving and lumbar disc degeneration: a case-control study. Lancet 2002;360(9343):1369–74.
5. Battié MC, Videman T, Levälahti E, et al. Genetic and environmental effects on disc degeneration by phenotype and spinal level: a multivariate twin study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2008;33(25):2801–08.
6. Abdalkader M, Guermazi A, Engebretsen L, et al. MRI-detected spinal disc degenerative changes in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics games. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020;21(1):45.
7. McLean D, Pearce N, Walls CB, Wigley RD. The “Twin Study” and the misunderstanding of epidemiology that clouds occupational associations and low back disorder. N Z Med J 2011;124(1339):109–11.
8. Walls CB, Snell A, McLean DJ, Pearce N. An updated critique of the use of the Twin Spine Study (2009) to determine causation of low back disorder. N Z Med J 2019;132(1494):57–59.
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