• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.9 no.spc
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• pp.107-122
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• 2003

The object of this study is to evaluate the prevailing physical and psychosocial conditions regarding occupational low back injury. This study consists of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines are applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers are analysed. There are 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there are 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI (Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. The relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were also analysed. Specifically, some postural factors(vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.734-742
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• 2001

Objective : To evaluate the role of anterior lumbar interbody fusion in treatment of failed back surgery syndrome, the authors retrospectively analyzed the result of anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed in our institute. Methods : Fifteen FBSS patients due to variable causes have been treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in our institute from April 1994 to June 1999. We analyzed clinical changes in 15 patients who were followed up for an average of 23 months. Results : The etiologies of FBSS were post operative discitis(6 cases), post operative instability(3 cases), post operative adhesion(5 cases), and recurrence(1 case). These fifteen FBSS patients were treated with anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The overall treatment outcome was satisfactory(excellent and good) in 11 cases. Three patients were slightly improved, but post operative low back pain was remained. One patient who had underwent nerve root injury due to pedicle screw insertion showed no improvement. Conclusion : We conclude that the anterior lumbar interbody fusion for FBSS seems to be safe and favorable treatment in selective patients, because low incidence of nerve injury risk and post-operative infection.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.76-88
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• 2001

Back extension exercises have been used for rehabilitation of the injured low back, prevention of injury, and fitness training programs. However, excessive loading on low back can exacerbate existing structural weakness. The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity of low back muscles during back extension exercises. Twenty healthy male subject s were evaluated. Electromyographic (EMG) activities of low back muscles at L1 and L5 level were recorded during seven different back extension exercises and two reference tasks by surface EMG and saved for data analysis. Reference tasks of lifting 20% and 40% of their body weight were included for comparison. The result were as follows: 1) Single-arm extension and single-leg extension exercises on quadruped position appeared to constitute a low-risk exercise for initial extensor strengthening. 2) When arm extension was combined with contralateral leg extension on quadruped position, EMG activities of low back muscles were increased. 3) EMG activity of low back muscles was highest during the trunk extension exercises on prone position. 4) EMG activities of low back muscles during arm and leg extension exercises on quadruped position were less than those of reference task of lifting 40% of their body weight. These result s have important implications for progressive back extensor muscle strengthening exercises in patients with back pain.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.817-822
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• 1995

Even though back pain therapy has greatly improved as spinal bio-mechanics is introduced, many patients still have difficulties due to low back pain. At the initial therapeutic stage, the aim of rehabilitation therapy for low back pain is pain control, but, at the later therapeutic stage, the prime aims are to reduce the late complication and to prevent the recurrence of low back pain. Accurate diagnosis should be a first step before any therapy is planned. Thus, accurate physical, neurologic, E.M.G. and radiologic tests are required to give prescription for therapeutic exercise to the patients. In addition to this, the roles of theraphists and therapeutic exercise should be re-evaluated after the therapeutic exercise is performed. Fist of all, the most important things are to educate the patients to understand the low back pain and to let the patients join the therapeutical planning. 1. Bed rest and muscle relaxing exercise for releasing the muscle tention are required for the treatment of acute low back pain. An active exercise is recommended rather than a passive exercise. If the therapeutic exercise depravate the low back pain, the exercise should be immediately terminated and the therapeutical exercise should be replanned. 2. For the treatment of the chronic back pain, stretching exercise and para-spinal muscle strengthening exercise should be performed steadily and actively to prevent the recurrence of low back pain and the low back injury due to minor damage. The patients should be educated to do proper exercise and to maintain good posture in everyday life. 3. As the low back pain is released and the body function is recovered, control of whole body function is necessary. Swiming, bicycling and walking for $30\sim40$ minutes a day and $3\sim4$ days a week are recommended. Other exercise could be recommended depending on the patients condition.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and its associated agricultural work-related, biomechanical factors among this population. Methods: We analyzed initial survey data from the Safety for Agricultural Injury of Farmers cohort study involving adult farmers in Jeju Island. The prevalence of LBP was calculated with associated factors. Results: In total, 1,209 participants were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of LBP was 23.7%. Significant associations for LBP were the type of farming activity, length of farming career, prior agricultural injury within 1 year, and stress levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three biomechanical factors significantly related to LBP: repetitive use of particular body parts; the inappropriate posture of the lower back and neck. Conclusions: Some occupational, and biomechanical risk factors contribute to LBP. Therefore, postural education, injury prevention education, and psychological support will be needed to prevent LBP.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.55-63
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• 2002

Human body balances right and left leg centering around pelvis and spine. Therefore, imbalance of lower extremity means disequilibrium of the body. The difference of lower extremity length can cause a number of clinic symptoms including scoliosis, low back pain, sacroiliac pain, and sports injury. In this study, we tried to analyze low back pain and joint stiffness resulting from the difference of lower extremity length. The subjects were 80 male students who are 20-25 years old. The results of this study were as following: 1. Low back pain depending on the difference of lower extremity length One group which the difference of lower extremity length is above 12mm showed average different length as 18.0mm, the other group which one is below 12mm showed as 6.3mm. A group of above 12mm had more severe low back pain than a group of below 12mm. 2. Joint stiffness depending on the difference of lower extremity length A group of above 12mm had more severe joint stiffness than a group of below 12mm.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the muscle activations between the professional golfers without low back pain symptom and the professional golfers with low back pain symptom, and so identify the stress related to golf swings, and provide the basic data to minimize the low back pain and the injury risk. Using surface electrode electromyography, we evaluated muscle activity in 6 male professional golfers during the golf drive swing. Surface electrodes were used to record the level of muscle activity in the Abdominal Oblique, Elector Spinae, Rectus Abdominis, Gluteus Maximus muscles during the golfer's swing. These signals were compared with %RVC(Reference voluntary contraction) which was normalized by IEMG(Integrated EMG). The golf swing was divided into five phases: take away, forward swing, acceleration, early follow through, late follow through. we observed patterns of trunk muscle activity throughout five phases of the golf swing. The results can be summarized as follows: RES(Right Elector Spinae) had statistically significant difference in take away phase, LGM(Left Gluteus Maximus), LRA(Left Rectus Abdominis), LOA(Left Oblique Abdominal) had statistically significant difference in forward swing phase, RES(Right Elector Spinae), RGM(Right Gluteus Maximus), ROA(Right Oblique Abdominal) had statistically significant difference in acceleration phase, RES(Right Elector Spinae), RGM(Right Gluteus Maximus) had statistically significant difference in early follow-through phase, LES(Left Elector Spinae), RGM(Right Gluteus Maximus) had statistically significant difference in late follow through phase.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.91-105
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• 1989

The purpose of this study is to identify the body images of patints with low back pain and their status on adjustment of daily living. The data were collected from 11 general hospitals during Feburary 2, 1987 through May 30,1987. One hundred and ninety five subjects having physical therapy treatment because of low back pain were analyzed. For measurement of body image, 11 pairs of adjectives were used on semantic differential scale, and for measurement of adjustment of daily living, 10 items were used on a likert type scale. Results of the study are summerised as follows. 1. The average patient age were 34yeats and 62% of the patients were men. High school grade completed were 43.1% and Cause of Low Back Pain were respctively;Unknown etiology 31.8%, lifting heavy objects 27.7%, Traffic accident and injury 17.9%. Types of treatment were;medication plus physical therapy 54.9%, physical therapy only 22.6%. Average treatment duration were 24.5 months. 2. There were significant difference in the body image between before low back pain and after low back pain. The body image before low back pain were 59.89(Mean) but after low back pain were 37,24(Mean) and two groups were statistically significant (t=21.3, p<0.00l). 3. there were no significant difference in the body image between the male and female.(t=1.49, p＞0.05) 4. The correlation between body image and adjustment of daily living. in both sexes showed positive correlation coefficient; male(r=0.4648, p<0.00l) female(r=0.4516, p<0.00l) respectively. It means that patients with positive body image can adjust well in daily living. 5. The relation between the body image and general variables revealed sigificant difference with occupation and age.(F=2.12 p<0.05, F=3.48 p<0.05). That is different occupation and different age groups can show different body image. In conculsion with the above results, It is my strong belief that multidisciplinary approach including the concept of body image and patient education about postural care, activities of daily living, lifting mechanics should be applied in treating and dealing with those patients.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.67-78
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• 2004

In the trim line of an automobile assembly process, 52.9% of the subjects complained the shoulder and low back pain simultaneously. The Alexander Technique is an educational method which shows people how they are misusing their bodies and how their daily habits of work can be harmful. It also teaches people how to avoid work habits which create excessive amounts of static work and how to reduce the amount of unnecessary muscular force they are applying to their bodies. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of repetitive strain injury on automobile assembly line process and contribute reducing the repetitive strain injury through Alexander Technique.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2003

The resonance behaviour needs be understood to identify the mechanisms responsible for the dynamic characteristics of human body, to allow for the non-linearity when predicting the influence of seating dynamics, and to predict the adverse effects caused by various magnitudes of vibration. However, there are currently no known studies on the effect of vibration magnitude on the transmissibility to thoracic or lumbar spine of the seated person, despite low back pain(LBP) being the most common ailment associated with whole-body vibration. The objective of this paper is to develop a proper mathematical human model for LBP and musculoskeletal injury of the crew in a maritime vehicle. In this study, 7 degree-of-freedom including 2 non-rigid mass representing wobbling visceral and intestine mass, is proposed. Also, when compared with previously published experimental results, the model response was found to be well-matching. When exposed to various of vertical vibration, the human model shows appreciable non-linearity in its biodynamic responses. The relationships of resonance for LBP and musculoskeletal injury during whole-body vibration are also explained.