Table 2.
Characteristics of studies investigating the relationship between the LI/CLI and LBDs
| Study | Sample size |
Age range |
Study design | Industry sector | LI/CLI values |
% reporting LBP/symptoms |
Main finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garg et al. (2014) | 258 | 19-65 | Prospective | Manufacturing and WRT |
Mean peak task CLI=2.8 |
48% had self- reported LBP during 4.5 year follow-up |
Peak LI and CLI are useful metrics for estimating physical job risk exposures |
| Garg et al. (2014) | 258 | 19-65 | Prospective | Manufacturing and WRT |
Mean peak task CLI=2.8 |
9% reported seeking care for LBP during 4.5 year follow-up |
Peak LI and CLI are useful metrics for estimating risk of sickness absence due to LBP |
| Kapellusch et al. (2014) | 258 | 19-65 | Prospective | Manufacturing and WRT |
Mean peak task CLI=2.8 |
14% reported use of medication for LBP during 4.5 year follow-up |
Peak LI and CLI are useful metrics for estimating medication use for LBP |
| Kucera, Loomis, Lipscomb, Marshall, Mirka & Daniels (2009) | 105 | Mean=46 | Prospective | Fishing | Range 0- 5.4 |
61% | The LI > 3.0 is associated with LBP |
| Lu, Waters, Krieg & Werren (2014) | 78 | Mean=40 | Prospective | Manufacturing | Mean CLI=1.5 |
32% reported LBP during one-year follow-up |
The CLI> 2.0 may be useful for predicting LBP |
| Marras, Fine, Ferguson & Waters (1999) | 353* | N/A | Cross-sectional | Manufacturing | – | N/A | RNLE identifies high risk jobs well but not low risk jobs |
| Schneider, Grant, Habes & Bertsche (1997) | 19 | 21-46 | Cross-sectional | Manufacturing | Range 3.9-8.2 |
47% | High prevalence of back pain is related to high LI values. |
| Sesek, Gilkey, Drinkaus, Bloswick & Herron (2003) | 182* | N/A | Retrospective | Manufacturing | – | N/A | OR for back injury were found to be 2.1 and 4.0 for LI values of 1.0 and 3.0 respectively |
| Wang, Garg, Chang, Shih, Yeh & Lee (1998) | 97 | 17-62 | Retrospective | 8 industry sectors |
– | 90% | The LI is a reliable measure for assessing discomfort rating due to LBP |
| Waters et al. (1999) | 308 | Mean=46 | Cross-sectional | Manufacturing | – | 30% | OR for LBP is 2.45 for 2<LI<3 |
| Waters, Lu, Piacitelli, Werren & Deddens (2011) | 677 | Mean=36 (19-68) |
Cross-sectional | Manufacturing | 0-9.37 | 20% | Within a range of LI from 1.0-3.0, there is an exposure-response relationship between the LI values and LBP |
| Xiao, Dempsey, Lei, Ma & Liang (2004) | 69 | Mean=41 | Cross-sectional | Manufacturing | 1.9-2.4 (median value) |
64% | Lifting repetitiveness and work age contributed to the occurrence of LBP |
| Yeung, Genaidy, Deddens & Leung (2003) | 217 | Mean=39 | Cross-sectional | WRT | N/A | N/A | Workers' perceived effort is significantly associated with RNLE task variables and MSD symptoms |
*
: The number is for jobs not persons
–
: Categorical LI data were used
N/A: Not available