Parameters of low back pain chronicity among athletes: associations with physical and mental stress

Objective: In the general population, physical and mental stress factors are linked to chronic low back pain (LBP). The aim of the present study was to examine this association among athletes

Einflüsse von Erholungsprozessen auf die Entstehung von lumbalem Rückenschmerz

In bestehenden theoretischen Modellen wird die Entstehung von lumbalen Rückenschmerz mit der erfahrenen Beanspruchung durch psychosoziale Arbeitsfaktoren in Verbindung gebracht. Ziel der Dissertation war es, die möglichen schützenden Einflüsse einer adäquaten Freizeiterholung auf die Entstehung von lumbalen Rückenschmerz zu spezifizieren. Hierfür wurde in einem ersten Schritt ein theoretisches Modell zum Einfluss der Erholung auf die Entstehung von lumbalen Rückenschmerz durch psychosoziale Arbeitsfaktoren aus der Literatur abgeleitet. Mittels einer Onlinebefragung bei Verwaltungsangestellten wurden anschließend die möglichen Einflüsse der Erholung auf Rückenschmerz im Quer- und Längsschnitt untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Erholung in der Freizeit den Einfluss der psychosozialen Arbeitsbedingungen auf das Rückenschmerzrisiko positiv beeinflusst und der akute Erholungs-Beanspruchungs-Zustand mit der Entstehung von Rückenschmerzen in Verbindung steht.In recent theoretical health models the development of low back pain (LBP) is associated with the perceived stress, caused by psychosocial work factors. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate possible moderating influences of recovery in leisure time on LBP development. In a first step, a theoretical model of the influences of recovery on LBP development was formulated, based on the actual literature. In a second step, administrative employees filled in an online survey to specify the influence of recovery on LBP in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study design. The results indicate that adequate recovery functions as a buffer between psychosocial work factors and LBP development. Furthermore, employees with a high recovery and low stress state showed a reduced LBP-risk compared to employees with low recovery and high stress values

Psychosoziale Arbeitsbedingungen und Rückenschmerz: Der moderierende Effekt von Detachment in der Freizeit

Psychosocial work demands and resources are identified risk factors for back pain development. But, coping with these work factors strongly depends on individual recovery status and the ability to detach from work demands. This study aimed to explore effects of detachment on the connection of work conditions and back pain. From 13 German universities, 647 administrations employees participated in an online-assessment. Questions regarding sociodemographic facts, back pain issues, work demands and resources, and detachment were included in this questionnaire. Respondents were divided into two groups to separate those with back pain and those without back pain. Persons with back pain showed stronger unfavorable work conditions and lower detachment scores. Furthermore, the moderating effect of detachment could be identified by logistic regression analysis. Detachment moderated the relations between work stress and back pain. Additionally, a moderating influence of detachment on the relationship between work climate and back pain was identified. It can be concluded that detachment in leisure time is related to back pain development. Especially when work stress is high it is important for people to detach adequately after work to avoid back pain issues

Psychological detachment as moderator between psychosocial work conditions and low back pain development

Objectives: Recovery processes in leisure time influence the effect of psychosocial work factors on health issues. However, this function of recovery has been neglected in research regarding the influence of work-related risk factors on low back pain (LBP) development. The aim of this prospective study was to examine the function of psychological detachment – a relevant recovery experience – concerning the influence of psychosocial work factors on LBP development. A moderating function of detachment for the interplay of work factors and LBP was assumed. Material and Methods: Sixty pain-free administrative employees of German universities completed an online survey 3 times during a 6-month period. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate risk-factors of LBP. Results: Analyses revealed an increased chance of LBP development for smokers and a decreasing chance when work resources were high. Detachment had no direct influence on LBP development, although it moderated the influence of work stressors and work resources on LBP. On the one hand, high detachment values seem to protect against an increased chance of LBP development when employees were confronted with high work stressors, while on the other hand high detachment values enhance the protective effect of high work resources. Conclusions: The results indicated a moderating role of detachment concerning the influence of psychosocial work factors on LBP development. Therefore, it is necessary to include recovery processes in future research regarding LBP development and consequently in LBP prevention concepts. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(2):313–32

The influences of recovery on low back pain development: A theoretical model

Psychologically and physically straining work conditions increase the risk of low back pain (LBP) development. According to recent recovery theories, leisure time recovery can counteract the negative influences of work stress on health. Similarly, a recent empirical work has indicated a moderating role of recovery on the link between stress and health issues. In this paper, a theoretical model is deduced to integrate the moderating effects of recovery on work stress and LBP development. Based on theoretical and empirical results, 2 separate recovery paths are distinguished: on the one hand, recovery can prevent the experience of stress because a well-recovered person can cope more easily with work demands; while on the other hand, recovery refills the depleted resources after confrontation with work strain and reduces stress experiences. Given that work strains is a main risk factor for LBP development, recovery in leisure time seems to be a highly relevant aspect, which has not been investigated to date in the field of LBP

Differences in low back pain occurrence over a 6-month period between four recovery-stress groups

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial work factors and general recovery experiences are hypothesised to influence the risk of low back pain (LBP) occurrence by influencing the acute recovery-stress state. So far, however, direct links between the acute recovery-stress state and LBP occurrence have not been investigated in detail. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in low back pain occurrence between four distinct recovery-stress groups over a period of 6 month. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with a 3-month and 6-month follow-up measurement was conducted in a sample of administrative employees (N = 271). First, the sample was divided into four distinct recovery-stress groups by cluster analysis. Subsequently, differences in LBP occurrence between these four groups and the Relative Risk (RR) were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, groups with higher stress than recovery scores showed a higher risk of LBP occurrence compared to those groups with lower stress than recovery scores. Furthermore, the group with the highest stress and lowest recovery scores showed a significant higher proportion of LBP occurrence after six months than the group with the lowest stress and highest recovery scores (RR = 7.29). CONCLUSION: The results indicate the relevance of the acute recovery-stress state for LBP occurrence

Psychological detachment as moderator between psychosocial work conditions and low back pain development

$\bf Objectives:$ Recovery processes in leisure time influence the effect of psychosocial work factors on health issues. However, this function of recovery has been neglected in research regarding the influence of work-related risk factors on low back pain (LBP) development. The aim of this prospective study was to examine the function of psychological detachment – a relevant recovery experience – concerning the influence of psychosocial work factors on LBP development. A moderating function of detachment for the interplay of work factors and LBP was assumed. $\textbf {Material and Methods:}$ Sixty pain-free administrative employees of German universities completed an online survey 3 times during a 6-month period. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate risk-factors of LBP. $\bf Results:$ Analyses revealed an increased chance of LBP development for smokers and a decreasing chance when work resources were high. Detachment had no direct influence on LBP development, although it moderated the influence of work stressors and work resources on LBP. On the one hand, high detachment values seem to protect against an increased chance of LBP development when employees were confronted with high work stressors, while on the other hand high detachment values enhance the protective effect of high work resources. $\bf Conclusions:$ The results indicated a moderating role of detachment concerning the influence of psychosocial work factors on LBP development. Therefore, it is necessary to include recovery processes in future research regarding LBP development and consequently in LBP prevention concepts

Low back pain in athletes and non-athletes: a group comparison of basic pain parameters and impact on sports activity

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a major health issue in athletes and non-athletes often accompanied by considerable restrictions in everyday functioning. Knowledge about differences between those groups regarding LBP parameters (intensity, duration, and disability) and their influence on daily life is still lacking. Hence, the present study aimed at the comparison of those LBP parameters between athletes and non-athletes and the impact of these factors on sports activity. Methods: LBP patients receiving prescribed sport- or physiotherapeutic treatment (N\ua0=\ua0264) completed a questionnaire battery to determine their LBP pain intensity, duration, chronification, disability, and changes in sports activity. The categorization into athletes and non-athletes was based on performance level. Uni- and multivariate analyses of (Co-) variance and nonparametric group comparisons were executed to analyze group differences. Results: Disability was lower in the athlete’s group, especially concerning work ability (p\ua

Recovery-stress patterns and low back pain: differences in pain intensity and disability

Recovery describes a restoring process influencing the health conditions of individuals but a potential link to low back pain (LBP) has not been scrutinized so far. Psychological strategies to deal with LBP have been considered within the biopsychosocial approach but substantial evidence regarding specific psychological underpinnings remains elusive. The current study aimed to compare individuals with different recovery-stress patterns (i.e. specific combinations of recovery/stress) regarding their pain and disability in the lower back.Cross-sectional data from 265 physically active individuals with non-specific LBP were collected via standardized questionnaires. The participants engaged in prescribed exercise therapy provided by a healthcare professional owing to their back burden. A k-means cluster analysis identified three clusters.Cluster 1 entailed individuals with high recovery and low stress values, Cluster 2 represented participants with medium scores on both dimensions and Cluster 3 included participants with low recovery and high stress values. The statistical analyses for pain intensity using analyses of covariance indicated significantly higher values for Cluster 3 compared with Clusters 1 and 2 for worst pain intensity (p\ua