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Biomedical subjects

J D Troup

Publications and source records attributed to J D Troup.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Rating of acceptable load in manual sorting of postal parcels.

The psychophysical test, the rating of acceptable load (RAL) were used to assess acceptable weights for dynamic lifting in postal workers engaged in sorting parcels. The standard test (RALSt) and a work-simulating test (RALW) were administered to 103 volunteers: all experienced male sorters. In the RALSt, subjects selected the weight which would be acceptable for lifting in a box with handles from table to floor and back to the table once every 5 min for the working day. for the RALW, the box was without handles and the weight was chosen to be acceptable for transfer 4-6 times/min from a table to the parcel container and back to the table. Both tests were made during normal working hours at postal sorting centres. The overall means for RALSt and RALW were 16.4 kg and 9.4 kg respectively (p < 0.001): both being substantially higher than the average parcel weight of 4 kg. The RALSt and RALW tests proved to be repetitive and sensitive for differentiating the effects of load and task variable in actual manual material handling. Thus they appear to be applicable to the evaluation of manual materials handling problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The prediction of chronicity in patients with an acute attack of low back pain in a general practice setting.

STUDY DESIGN: Three hundred patients, attending their general practitioners with attacks of acute low back pain, formed the subject population for a study of fear avoidance and other variables in the prediction of chronicity. Follow-up was at 2 and 12 months. OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis to be tested was that evidence of psychological morbidity, particularly fear-avoidance behavior, would be manifest from the outset of the presenting attack in susceptible subjects. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: While back pain is an almost universal human experience, only about 5% of sufferers seek medical advice. Most of these respond to conservative treatment. However, approximately 10% of those who experience an acute attack of low back pain go on to become chronic sufferers. METHODS: Psychosocial and physiological data (including fear-avoidance measures) were collected from a sample of 300 acute low back pain patients within 1 week of presentation and at 2 months, to try to predict 12 month outcome. RESULTS: Data analysis showed that subjects who had not recovered by 2 months were those who went on to become chronic low back pain patients (7.3%). Using multiple regression analyses, fear-avoidance variables were the most successful in predicting outcome. Using multiple discriminant function analyses, the results suggest that the outcome in terms of the future course of low back pain can be correctly classified in 66% from fear-avoidance variables alone and in 88% of patients from all variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that, at the earliest stage of low back pain, fear of pain should be identified by clinicians and, where this is severe, pain confrontation should arguably form part of the approach to treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

The influence of age and gender on lumbar spine sagittal plane range of motion. A study of 1126 healthy subjects.

Inclinometers have been recommended for the measurement of lumbar spine range of motion (ROM) in the assessment of disability. Range of motion thresholds that determine impairment ratings have been established without regard to age and gender or variances of the measures. This investigation determined the effect of gender and age on lumbar spine sagittal plane ROM in 1126 healthy male and female volunteers. Results indicate that distinct differences exist between men and women in flexion angle and extension angle, whereas little difference exists between genders for total lumbar sagittal ROM. Total sagittal ROM, flexion angle, and extension angle declined as age increased. Because of the high degree of variability in the measurements, detecting impairment in ROM with this method is problematic.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Physiological and spinal responses to circuit weight-training.

Physiological, perceptual and physical responses to a typical circuit weight-training (CWT) regimen were recorded in two studies. The aims were to assess the intensity of exercise during CWT; and to determine whether physical responses as evaluated by spinal shrinkage were related to physiological and perceptual responses to CWT. In the first study (n = 10) heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), ventilation (VE), blood lactate (La) and perceived exertion (RPE) were measured in response to CWT. Mean (+/- SD) time to complete three circuits of CWT was 17.8 (+/- 1.4) min. The HR max, VO2 max and peak La, measured first during an incremental treadmill test, were 195 (+/- 13) beats.min-1, 59.7 (+/- 4.8) ml.kg-1.min-1 and 14.3 (+/- 3.5) mM respectively. Mean HR and VO2 during CWT were 69% and 50% of the respective maximal values. The HR-VO2 ratio observed on the treadmill was elevated during CWT, with VO2 being lowered relative to HR. Mean VE and La values were 52.7 (+/- 14.5) l.min-1 and 6.9 (+/- 3.6) mM. The effect of the same CWT regimen on spinal loading as indicated by change in stature (shrinkage) was investigated in a second study (n = 8). The mean (+/- SD) time taken to complete the circuit was 17.4 (+/- 1.3) min. Mean shrinkage due to CWT (2.5 +/- 1.5 mm) was unrelated to the time taken to complete the circuits, to HR, RPE or to low back pain ratings (p > 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Shrinkage and psychophysical load ratings in self-paced and force-paced lifting work and during recovery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the load on the human spine during force-paced and self-paced lifting and subsequent rest. Five women and five men worked under self-paced and force-paced (4 lifts/min) conditions on two days lifting a box for 30 min. The weight of the box was determined by the rating of acceptable load (RAL) method. During the work the lift rate was observed, and subjects made rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in 5 min intervals. The stature was measured with a staturemeter before and after the work period and during the following 30 min rest lying. In self-paced work women had a higher lift rate than men (p less than 0.05). In general, RPEs increased towards the end of the lifting period but RPEs did not differ between women and men or between self-paced and force-paced work. The mean shrinkage during the 30 min work was in self-paced work 5.1 +/- 2.0 mm for women and 5.8 +/- 1.2 mm for men, and in force-paced work 5.8 +/- 2.3 mm and 6.8 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences in shrinkage at work between women and men nor between the two different pacing methods. During the 30 min rest recumbent the subjects regained almost the same amount of height as they had lost during lifting. The rapid shrinkage and recovery when loading and unloading suggest that a few minutes rest lying after heavy activities would be beneficial for the spine.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Changes in stature during exercise and sports training.

Shrinkage in stature is used in ergonomics and sports contexts as an index of load on the spine. Measurement is now computer-aided to facilitate data collection. Applications of the technique to sport and exercise have included evaluations of weight-training, running and jumping drills. The technique has also been employed in assessing procedures for spinal unloading such as gravity inversion. Future applications include investigations of procedures used to prevent back injury as well as studies of sports that impose high transient loads on the spine.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Running speed and spinal shrinkage in runners with and without low back pain.

Decreases in stature (shrinkage) are used to indicate exercise induced spinal loading. This study examined the effect of three running speeds on two groups of runners, one with chronic low back pain. The two groups of seven male marathon runners ran at 70%, 85%, and 100% of their marathon race pace for 30 min on separate occasions. Before and after exercise the subjects were seated for 20 min with the lumbar spine supported. Stature was measured before pre-exercise sitting, before running, after 15 min of running, after 30 min of running, and after post-exercise sitting. A stadiometer accurate to within 0.5 mm was used to record changes in stature. Results showed no differences in response to the three running regimens between the groups (P greater than 0.05). Shrinkage was greater during the first 15 min, being 3.26 (+/- 2.78) mm compared with 2.12 (+/- 1.61) mm for the second 15 min of the run (P less than 0.05). The faster the running speed the greater the resultant shrinkage. The 70%, 85%, and 100% conditions caused 3.37 (+/- 2.38), 5.10 (+/- 1.90), and 7.69 (+/- 3.69) mm of shrinkage, respectively (P less than 0.005). These results suggest that low back pain is independent of the shrinkage induced by running. Further research is required to determine the effect of longer duration runs on spinal shrinkage.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

1990 Volvo Award in clinical sciences. Lumbar spinal pathology in cadaveric material in relation to history of back pain, occupation, and physical loading.

The occurrence of symmetric disc degeneration, anular ruptures, end-plate defects, vertebral body osteophytosis, and facet joint osteoarthrosis was examined radiographically and osteologically in 86 male cadavers for whom occupational, physical loading, and back pain histories were obtained from the men's families. History of back pain and the parameters of spinal pathology were related to the highest and lowest degrees of physical loading. In multivariate analyses, history of back injury was related to the occurrence of symmetric disc degeneration, anular ruptures, and vertebral osteophytosis. Symmetric disc degeneration was associated with sedentary work, and vertebral osteophytosis was related to heavy work. History of back pain was related to occupational physical loading after control for the effects of the other covariates. The results indicate that the least pathology stemmed from moderate or mixed physical loading, but the least back pain was associated with sedentary work.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Changes in stature following drop jumping and post-exercise gravity inversion.

Spinal shrinkage, measured by changes in stature, is used as an index of spinal loading as alterations reflect changes in intervertebral disc height. Shrinkage induced by various physical activities may be reversed using gravity inversion. The present purpose was to examine the shrinkage induced by a drop jumping regimen and evaluate gravity inversion post-exercise. Eight males, aged 20-31, performed two separate experimental protocols, each on different dates at 1400 h. Subjects stood for 30 min before undertaking an exercise regimen, consisting of five sets of five drop jumps from a height of 1 m, rebounding over a hurdle 0.5 m high. For 20 min, directly following the exercise regimen, subjects on one occasion stood and on a second occasion undertook gravity inversion. Shrinkage was monitored for 40 min after this post-exercise treatment. The stadiometer used to measure shrinkage was accurate to 0.05 mm. The exercise regimen caused a mean shrinkage of 1.68 and 1.81 mm for the two testing sessions. Post-exercise inversion and standing for 20 min increased stature by 5.18 and 0.76 mm, respectively (P less than 0.01). The 40-min standing period following inversion caused a rapid loss in stature (4.07 mm). At 30 min into this recovery period, there was no significant difference in shrinkage for either of the regimens. Results suggest that effects of an inversion treatment are short-lasting.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Patient-handling skill, back injuries, and back pain. An intervention study in nursing.

The aim of this intervention was to evaluate the effect of training on patient-handling skills and prospectively to assess the effect of skill on subsequent back pain and back injuries in nursing. Of a total of 255 nurses, 199 were assessed for their skill in patient-handling. One-half (control group) received traditional training in patient-handling, and the other half (trained group) received a curriculum of instruction totaling 40 hours. The skills of both groups were assessed on graduation. The control group was rated as less competent in patient-handling. Nurses in both groups were questioned about the prevalence of back pain and incidence of back injuries in the first year after graduation. In multiple regression analysis, the major risk indicators for back injuries were poor patient-handling skill, low numbers of repetitions in the sit-up test, and high work-load scores. High score on the hysteria scale of Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire was a risk indicator for all kinds of back pain. Though back pain was independent of patient-handling skill, those rated as "bad" or "poor" had more back injuries (24%) than those who had been rated as "good" or "excellent" (2%) (P less than 0.001), but the difference between the trained and control groups was not statistically significant. It was concluded that back injuries may be prevented by the teaching of patient-handling skills.

Back Injuries↗
PubMed1989

Variation in lumbar sagittal mobility with low-back trouble.

The influence of low-back trouble on lumbar sagittal mobility was explored in 958 individuals aged 10 to 84 years. Experience of low-back trouble was determined by questionnaire, and categorized as none, a previous history, or a current spell. Maximal mobility was estimated from flexicurve records of back surface curvature. The results for adults revealed that mean mobility values were reduced by both previous and current low-back trouble, particularly in the upper lumbar region, when compared with nonsufferers. Stepwise regression analyses showed that variation in mobility was best accounted for by the cumulative effects of age and sex. These variables accounted for approximately one-third of the variation in mobility: low-back trouble only accounted for an additional 1%. At the extremes of the range, both hypomobility and hypermobility were identified as risk indicators for low-back trouble. Relative hypermobility was not confined to subjects with no history of back trouble; some current sufferers had particularly high levels of mobility. Similarly hypomobility was found in nonsufferers as well as in those with back trouble. The data indicated that young adults (notably males) with previous low-back trouble may not recover their previous mobility on symptomatic resolution. The finding of hypermobility in current sufferers indicates that mobilization therapy may not be appropriate for such patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Prediction of low-back trouble frequency in a working population.

This study was performed to estimate the discriminatory power of multiple combinations of risk indicators for the occurrence and recurrence of low-back trouble (LBT) in workers. Two categories of LBT provided groups for discrimination; 1) the presence or absence of LBT history, and 2) three patterns of recurrence characterized by the number of episodes (isolated, periodic, chronic). The risk indicators comprised data reflecting occupational and leisure demands on the back, measures of lumbar sagittal mobility, and anamnestic features of the first episode. Discriminant analysis was the statistical procedure used. The results showed that it was possible to find linear combinations of the discriminating variables that successfully allocated around two-thirds of the sample to the correct group. The presence of a history of LBT was predicted by the combined effect of increasing age and adult sports participation, but only in females did a heavier job contribute to such prediction. A reduction in risk was associated with lumbar flexibility and sports participation at school. Chronic LBT was more accurately identified than the two other groups; increasing age, a long initial spell, and an onset early in life were associated with increased likelihood of chronicity, while a report of symptoms being relieved by sitting reduced this risk. It is concluded that the occurrence and recurrence of LBT are related to combinations of risk indicators, and that it is imperative to consider the interactive effect of a multiplicity of factors in epidemiologic studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Back pain, ventilatory function, chest symptoms, and smoking.

Tests of ventilatory function were made and a history of previous back pain was obtained from 909 volunteers (592 men and 317 women). One year later, using postal questionnaires, they were asked about their experience of back pain in the ensuing 12 months and about smoking habits, breathlessness, coughing, and the bringing up of phlegm. From the frequency of their experience of back pain, the population was divided into "nonbacks," "mild backs," and "chronic backs." From their answers to the MRC Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms they were divided first into good, mild, and bad with regard to chest symptoms; and also into smokers, exsmokers, and nonsmokers. Ventilatory function tests were reduced in both smokers and "bad chests" and chest symptoms were significantly worse in smokers. Women with back pain were more likely to be smokers, but men with back pain were not. Chest symptoms were significantly worse in "chronic backs," whether men or women. The results suggest that previous reports of a relation between smoking and back pain arose incidentally from the associations between (a) chest and back symptoms and (b) chest symptoms and smoking.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1987

Assessment of workload from measurements of stature.

The height of the body in the erect position varies by about 1% during the course of the day. It decreases rapidly after getting up and, depending on the pattern of work and rest, continues to reduce during the day; then overnight, it recovers. These changes result from changes in the height of the intervertebral discs. With conventional methods of measuring stature, these changes would go unrecognised. Apparatus has therefore been developed, allowing measurement to an accuracy of at least 1 mm. Studies have been made of static loading, dynamic lifting, running, in different types of seating and in resting postures. In general, height losses are proportional to the magnitude of lumbosacral compression, to the perception of exertion during physical exercise and to the levels of postural discomfort. Gains in height in positions of rest are proportional to the ratings for relaxation and comfort. For the ergonomist, therefore, the method offers a reliable means of assessing the effects on the spine of both physical work and rest-pauses.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1987

Ergonomics and training.

The need for ergonomic intervention to improve the working environment is nowhere more urgent than for the nursing profession. The Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, have been pioneers in the development of systems for ergonomic assessment of the workplace by the workers themselves and consideration is now being given to the question of ergonomic education that will allow workers to modify and improve their own working environment. This study was planned to evaluate the effects of introducing ergonomics and biomechanics into the course of instruction for student nurses concerning working postures and patient-transfers. As a result, significant improvements in patient-handling techniques have been observed.

Back Pain↗