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. 2021 Dec 30;19(4):482-490.
doi: 10.47626/1679-4435-2021-626. eCollection 2021 Oct-Dec.

Low back pain in military police activity: analysis of prevalence, associated factors, and ergonomics

Matheus Curcio Locatelli  1
Affiliations

Low back pain in military police activity: analysis of prevalence, associated factors, and ergonomics

Matheus Curcio Locatelli. Rev Bras Med Trab. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: Low back pain is a frequent occupational complaint, corresponding to a considerable portion of leaves of absence that lead to economic loss. This symptom is frequently observed in military police officers, which carry around mandatory gear, which increases overload of the lumbar spine.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low back pain among military police officers, to identify associated factors, and to assess ergonomic hazards.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, which analyzed the presence of low back pain, the degree of disability (with the Orwestry Disability Index), and possible associated factors in 2 subgroups of military police officers in the South region of the state of Santa Catarina.

Results: Our sample consisted in 221 military police officers; 194 wore belt holsters and 27 wore drop leg holsters. The first group showed a higher prevalence of low back pain (74.2%) and pain chronification (70.1%). A higher prevalence of pain was observed in the extremes of age and also among police officers who had been on the job longer. The mean Orwestry Disability Index was higher in the group wearing belt holsters.

Conclusions: Protection gear carried around by military police officers may be related to low back pain complaints; a better weight distribution of this equipment on the body may be beneficial in the prevention of low back pain. The drop leg holster was demonstrated to be a possible solution, allowing weight distribution to the lower limbs and decreasing overload of the lumbar spine due to equipment weight.

Introdução: Lombalgias são queixas ocupacionais frequentes, correspondentes a uma parte considerável de afastamentos laborais que implicam, consequentemente, em prejuízo econômico. Esse sintoma é frequentemente observado nos policiais militares, que carregam consigo equipamentos obrigatórios atrelados ao corpo, os quais aumentam a sobrecarga sobre a coluna lombar.

Objetivos: Este estudo objetivou avaliar a prevalência de dor lombar em policiais militares, identificar os fatores associados e avaliar os riscos ergonômicos.

Métodos: Estudo transversal que avaliou a presença de dor lombar, o grau de incapacidade da dor através do índice de incapacidade de Oswestry e possíveis fatores associados em dois subgrupos de policiais militares do Sul do estado de Santa Catarina.

Resultados: A amostra deste estudo consistiu em 221 policiais militares; 194 faziam uso do coldre de cintura, e 27, do coldre de perna. O primeiro grupo apresentou maior prevalência de dor lombar (74,2%) e cronificação da mesma (70,1%). Foi observada ainda maior prevalência de dor em extremas faixas etárias do estudo e também nos policiais que tinham maior tempo de serviço. A média de pontuação no índice de incapacidade de Oswestry foi maior no grupo que usava coldre de cintura.

Conclusões: Os equipamentos de proteção atrelados ao corpo do policial militar podem estar relacionados às queixas de dor lombar; uma melhor distribuição do peso desses equipamentos no corpo pode trazer benefícios na prevenção das dores lombares. O coldre de perna demonstrou ser uma possível solução, permitindo uma distribuição de peso nos membros inferiores e diminuindo a sobrecarga dos equipamentos sobre a coluna lombar.

Keywords: ergonomics; low back pain; police; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Belt holster.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Drop leg holster.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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