ABSTRACT
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most serious and persistent problems in occupational medicine. Epidemiological studies have shown that about 60 to 80% of the population experiences LBP at some time during their active life. The associated costs of LBP in terms of loss of productivity, replacement training, and individual suffering are unacceptably high. LBP can develop suddenly or gradually, with or without an initiating event. Although the majority of LBP has no particular etiology, the incidence of reported pain, injury, loss of work, and disability is higher among those who are employed in occupations with high levels of exposure to physical loading. It is therefore essential to understand the ergonomic factors as well as the basic biomechanics related to LBP.
