Table 1.

Risk factors for occurrence and chronicity of low back pain^w10

Risk factors	Occurrence	Chronicity
Individual	Age; physical fitness; weakness of back and abdominal muscles; smoking	Obesity; low educational level; high levels of pain and disability
Psychosocial	Stress; anxiety; negative mood or emotions; poor cognitive functioning; pain behaviour	Distress; depressive mood; somatisation
Occupational	Manual material handling; bending and twisting; whole body vibration; job dissatisfaction; monotonous tasks; poor work relationships and social support	Job dissatisfaction; unavailability of light duty on return to work; job requirement of lifting for three quarters of the day