Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1990 Aug;16(3):699-716.

Low back pain/prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc

J L Kelsey  1 , A L Golden, D J Mundt
Affiliations
  • PMID: 2145614
Review

Low back pain/prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc

J L Kelsey et al. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1990 Aug.

Abstract

Low back pain is common throughout the adult years in both men and women; first episodes most frequently occur among people in their 20s and 30s. Prolapsed lumbar disc most often affects individuals in the age range 25-45 years; prolapses occur infrequently in persons below 20 years or over 65 years. Major risk factors for low back pain in general and for prolapsed disc specifically include frequent lifting of objects weighing 25 pounds or more, especially if the objects are lifted with the arms extended and with the knees straight and if the lifting is done while the body is twisted; exposure to whole-body vibration, including driving motor vehicles; cigarette smoking; and, for prolapsed lumbar disc, narrow lumbar vertebral canals. Possible risk factors for which the evidence is weak or inconsistent include frequent stretching, reaching, pulling, and pushing on the job; sedentary occupations; jobs in which workers stay in one position for long periods of time; recent employment in a physically demanding job; jobs requiring frequent twisting without lifting; tallness; heredity; extent of forward flexibility in the lumbar area; lack of physical fitness; pregnancies; psychological symptoms; and frequent participation in bowling. The methods suggested to date with the greatest potential for prevention include modification of jobs so as to reduce exposure to known occupational risk factors, and careful selection of workers by such means as strength testing for the particular job for which they are to be employed.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources