Risk factors for developing jumper's knee in sport and occupation: a review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The onset of jumper's knee is generally associated with sports and sporting activities. Employees in certain professions might be at risk as well for developing jumper's knee. Therefore, it is of interest to identify risk factors in sport and/or occupation.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A systematic search of the international scientific literature was performed until November 2008 in the scientific databases (a) Medline, (b) Embase, and (c) SportDiscus. All types of studies were included. The search strategy retrieved ten articles about risk factors in sport that met the inclusion criteria. Risk factors that could be identified are; playing volleyball (4 studies), playing basketball (3 studies), training and playing volleyball/basketball more than 12 hours per week (2 studies), in combination with weight-bearing activities of at least 5 hours per week (1 study) and playing or training on a hard surface (1 study). No studies were found regarding occupation that fulfilled the inclusion criteria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Playing volleyball and basketball has a positive association with the onset or worsening of jumper's knee. Other risk factors are training and playing hours of at least 12 hours per week and/or in combination with weight training of at least 5 hours per week, and/or with playing or training on a hard surface. We did not find a specific occupational risk factor.</p

The development of an intervention programme to reduce whole-body vibration exposure at work induced by a change in behaviour: a study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whole body vibration (WBV) exposure at work is common and studies found evidence that this exposure might cause low back pain (LBP). A recent review concluded there is a lack of evidence of effective strategies to reduce WBV exposure. Most research in this field is focussed on the technical implications, although changing behaviour towards WBV exposure might be promising as well. Therefore, we developed an intervention programme to reduce WBV exposure in a population of drivers with the emphasis on a change in behaviour of driver and employer. The hypothesis is that an effective reduction in WBV exposure, in time, will lead to a reduction in LBP as WBV exposure is a proxy for an increased risk of LBP.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The intervention programme was developed specifically for the drivers of vibrating vehicles and their employers. The intervention programme will be based on the most important determinants of WBV exposure as track conditions, driving speed, quality of the seat, etc. By increasing knowledge and skills towards changing these determinants, the attitude, social influence and self-efficacy (ASE) of both drivers and employers will be affected having an effect on the level of exposure. We used the well-known ASE model to develop an intervention programme aiming at a change or the intention to change behaviour towards WBV exposure. The developed programme consists of: individual health surveillance, an information brochure, an informative presentation and a report of the performed field measurements.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The study protocol described is advantageous as the intervention program actively tries to change behaviour towards WBV exposure. The near future will show if this intervention program is effective by showing a decrease in WBV exposure.</p

Figure of the concept how occupational health surveillance leads to an intervention

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The development of an intervention programme to reduce whole-body vibration exposure at work induced by a change in behaviour: a study protocol"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/329</p><p>BMC Public Health 2007;7():329-329.</p><p>Published online 15 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2211310.</p><p></p

The representation of the components of the ASE model in the intervention programme for the driver and the employer

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "The development of an intervention programme to reduce whole-body vibration exposure at work induced by a change in behaviour: a study protocol"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/329</p><p>BMC Public Health 2007;7():329-329.</p><p>Published online 15 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2211310.</p><p></p