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Biomedical subjects

A L Hellsing

Publications and source records attributed to A L Hellsing.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Predictors of musculoskeletal pain in men: A twenty-year follow-up from examination at enlistment.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study with follow-up by a postal questionnaire to 6626 men nearly 40 years of age who had been examined for the first time at the age of 18. OBJECTIVES: To study the predictability of frequent musculoskeletal problems, health, lifestyle, and work situation from the examination 20 years earlier. BACKGROUND: Those who enlisted for military duty during 6 months in 1979-1980 answered a questionnaire focusing on back pain, smoking, and physical work exposure. As these men enter the biologic age when back pain is most frequent, a follow-up was of interest. METHODS: A new questionnaire was sent to those from the enlistment group who could be identified in the population register, and the answers were compared with those given at enlistment. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain increased from 38% to 74% during the 20-year period. Neck or shoulder problems were nearly as common as back problems. The number of those with a body mass index more than 25 had increased from 9% to 50%, and smoking had decreased from 29% to 14%. The odds ratio for frequent back/neck/shoulder problems at follow-up evaluation was 8.7 (95% CI: 3.78-20.10) if the person had experienced back pain that greatly affected everyday life at enlistment, 3.0 (95% CI: 2.33-3.93) if he had been off work or school because of that pain, and 2.2 (95% CI 1.57-3.24) if he had been doing heavy work already at the time of enlistment. CONCLUSION: Early back pain causing absence from work, reduced activity levels because of the pain, and heavy work loads showed a significantly increased risk for frequent pain problems at follow-up examination.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1998

A population-based study of spinal pain among 35-45-year-old individuals. Prevalence, sick leave, and health care use.

STUDY DESIGN: A questionnaire was mailed to 3000 randomly selected 35-45-year-old individuals in three communities in central Sweden. OBJECTIVES: To study the 1-year prevalence of spinal pain and its ramifications in the form of pain, function, sick leave, and health care use. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous researchers have used a variety of definitions and populations, but primarily have investigated the occurrence of pain. Comprehensive data are needed concerning health care use, the degree of the pain problem, functional disturbances, and sick leave. METHOD: Participants in the study completed a questionnaire regarding spinal pain during the past year including the degree of their experienced pain, functional impairment, lost work days, and health care use. RESULTS: A total of 2305 people (78.5%) responded to the questionnaire. Nonrespondents had similar characteristics but a slightly lower 1-year prevalence rate than did respondents. For respondents, the prevalence of spinal pain during the past year was 66.3%, with women having a slightly higher prevalence than men. Approximately 25% of the respondents indicated that they had a substantial problem based on ratings of pain, functional impairment, and sick leave. Work absenteeism reported to the Public Social Insurance Office involved 19% of those with pain, but an additional 15% indicated unreported absenteeism. On average, those with pain visited health care providers three times during the past year, but a small number of those who experienced pain consumed large amounts of health care and illness benefits. An important gender difference was shown, such that when pain was at its worst, men took sick leave, whereas women sought health care. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data indicate that spinal pain is common among 35-45-year-old men and-women, and that it is related to marked problems for approximately one fourth of those who experience pain. Gender differences exist in the pattern of sick leave and health care use, and a small proportion of those with pain consume very large amounts of the resources. Consequently, there is a need for early, effective, preventive treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Musculoskeletal health surveillance. Eight simple, self-administered tests to add to symptom registration: a preliminary report.

STUDY DESIGN: A population-based evaluation including cross-sectional comparisons of eight simple function tests (mobility and strength) and answers on questions concerning lifestyle factors, work environment, and health. The study population was randomly selected among people 35-45 years old. OBJECTIVES: To construct a simple, self-administered surveillance system to test musculoskeletal function to be mailed to a sample population along with a questionnaire. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A surveillance system should be easy to use, detect treatable symptoms at an early stage, and detect change of function or symptoms. METHOD: Questionnaires, which also contained instructions in performing the eight tests of musculoskeletal function, were sent to a randomly selected sample population. The questionnaire covered type and level of musculoskeletal problems, and lifestyle and occupational factors. RESULTS: The questionnaire and the self-administered test were completed by 834 people. The test movements could be performed and the questions answered by the study population. The tests discriminated between those with and without moderate or severe problems. Performance of physically heavy work did not significantly correlate with the test results. The results of the physical function test discriminated significantly between those with different levels of fear of movement (odds ratio, 2.2) and the degree of current somatic distress (odds ratio, 5.9). CONCLUSION: The test of physical function could be performed and the questionnaire completed by this randomly selected cohort, and the results discriminated significantly between groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bridging the gap: support groups do not enhance long-term outcome in chronic back pain.

OBJECTIVE: Because back pain patients often relapse within months of treatment, the effects of two types of support groups as a complement to usual medical treatment was investigated on long-term outcome. DESIGN: Regular treatment was compared with an "educational" support group and a professional support group before and 1 year after intervention in a randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: A total of 76 women and 27 men, average age of 50 years and with an accumulated sick leave for musculoskeletal pain of 2-24 weeks during the past year, were randomly assigned to the three groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sick leave records were obtained from the National Insurance Authority. A battery of standardized instruments was employed, which featured the Sickness Impact Profile, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale, the Pain and Discomfort Scale, the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory, and the Outcome Evaluation Questionnaire. RESULTS: The Educational Support Group demonstrated greater attendance than did the Professional Support Group. However, long-term outcome was not significantly different between any of the groups for sick leave, coping, function, or experienced pain. Both support groups, relative to the Regular Treatment Group, made greater improvements on the Sickness Impact Profile. CONCLUSION: This study provides little evidence that support groups, as a complement to regular treatment, enhance long-term outcome for subacute musculoskeletal pain problems. Specific treatment techniques, matched to the patient's needs, stringently taught, and delivered in a more compact form, may be necessary for enhancing outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

The effects of ergonomically designed school furniture on pupils' attitudes, symptoms and behaviour.

We tested the effects of implementing ergonomically designed school furniture on measures of comfort, sitting posture and symptoms. Three classes of fourth graders (10 years old) were randomly assigned either to a control group using traditional furniture or to an experimental group which received the ergonomically designed furniture. In both groups questionnaires were completed and sitting behaviour was observed twice before and after the intervention as well as at a five-month follow-up period. Although the experimental groups rated their furniture as being significantly more comfortable, differences in actual sitting behaviour were small. The experimental class experienced a reduction in musculoskeletal symptoms relative to the control group after implementing the ergonomically designed furniture. Since pupils did not automatically sit 'properly' in the ergonomic furniture, these results demonstrate the need for proper instructions and adjustment. Increased comfort and decreased symptoms may be used to motivate pupils to sit correctly. Our results suggest that furniture design is one aspect of a multidimensional problem.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

A prospective study of patients with acute back and neck pain in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This community-based investigation studied patients with acute back/neck pain and prospectively examined risk factors for chronic pain. SUBJECTS: One hundred twenty residents (64 men, 56 women) of a rural community in Sweden who were off work or had been examined by a physician rural community in Sweden who were off work or had been examined by a physician because of acute low back/neck pain during a 1-year period were randomly selected to participate in the study. METHODS: All subjects were examined by a physical therapist and completed questionnaires relating to their functional ability during activities of daily living. The subjects were then prospectively followed to examine treatment content and possible factors for predicting the development of chronic pain. RESULTS: The most common symptom was a dull ache (44%), mostly in the low back (56%). In spite of early care, 16 patients who were randomly selected for further study developed chronic pain during the follow-up year. The patients with chronic pain did not differ from those without chronic pain in age, amount of pain, or handicaps. The risk of developing chronic pain, however, was nearly five times higher for those patients whose pain was provoked by trunk movements in several directions at the first clinical examination. When signs of possible nerve root affection were present, the risk for chronic pain development was nearly eight times higher. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: These results suggest that more attention may need to be paid to patients with these risk factors, so that effective preventive measures may be developed.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1993

Ergonomic education for nursing students.

An educational package of common ergonomic training as well as behavioural training was implemented in nursing education. The teaching methods also had the aim of increasing students' awareness of the importance of total work environment for the prevention of back injuries. The experimental group was, on the whole, more pleased with their education than the control group. The experimental group judged their ability to analyse the work environment higher than the control group did. Observations in some practical work-tasks showed that students from the experimental group worked in physically more favourable positions with less strain on the body.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1988

Leg length inequality. A prospective study of young men during their military service.

Within a prospective study of back function and pain before and after basic military training, the leg length inequality (LLI) was assessed, in steps of less than 0.5 cm. (equal), 0.5-1.5 cm, 1.6-2.5 cm, 2.6-3.5 cm and more than 3.5 cm. Around six hundred young men were examined three times over a period of four years. LLI of 0.5-1.5 cm was found in 32%, and 4% had a difference of over 1.5 cm. Pelvic rotation was noted in 15% of the cases. The average total agreement of identifying LLI was 64% between the three examinations. No correlation was found between LLI and back-pain or pain-provocing tests. In those with LLI in standing there was a tendency towards more remarks on SI-joint mobility tested in lying. During the follow-up period, no correlation of the LLI and the result of the other examination variables could be found.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Passive lumbar mobility. A prospective study of back pain in young men during their military service.

Mobility of the back is mostly evaluated through active mobility in a standing position. In this study, also the passive mobility between lumbar vertebraes was assessed in sidelying, and grouped in four categories. More than five hundred young men were examined three times over a period of 3-4 years, before and after their basic military training. The lumbar vertebra L5 was judged to have decreased mobility in 29% and increased mobility in 17% of the cases. The corresponding values for L4 were 39% and 13%, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between the results of all the examinations. The total agreement between examinations was around 50%. Decreased passive lumbar mobility correlated to the current amount of back discomfort at the second and third examinations, but at the first examination it could not predict the future incidence of back pain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Tightness of hamstring- and psoas major muscles. A prospective study of back pain in young men during their military service.

Muscular tightness and the therapeutic effect of stretching has been widely discussed during the last few years in sports training and physiotherapy. Within a prospective study of back function and pain before and after compulsory military service, tightness of hamstring- and psoas muscles was assessed. Around 600 young men were examined three times over a period of four years. Tight hamstring muscles were found to be very common in this group. Only 43% of the right and 35% of the left legs reached an angle of at least 80 degrees from the couch during the straight-leg-raising test (Lasegue's test). The test of muscular tightness showed a significant test-retest reliability over all examinations. Tight hamstring- or psoas muscles could not be shown to correlate to current back pain or to the incidence of back pain during the follow-up period.

Adolescent↗