Estimating the global burden of low back pain attributable to combined occupational exposures

lifestyles become more sedentary the risk of injury and chronic pain increases. For example individuals who spend their day working at a desk frequently suffer from weak abdominal and back muscles and poor flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles. This places them at higher risk of back pain. In Canada Finland and the United States musculoskeletal disorders (especially back pain) are the number one type of work disability (Punnett et al. 2005). Fortunately exercise can play an important role in preventing back pain and rehabilitating some back problems.At the opposite extreme physical activity itself increases the risk of injury. The major risks and causes of injury from physical activity include improper training techniques poor program design alignment abnormalities in the legs and feet overtraining and not enough rest. It is important to be aware of the main causes of back pain and other injuries in order to design a safe and effective fitness program.Reference:Punnett L. Pruss-Ustun A. Nelson D. I. Fingerhut M. A. Leigh J. Tak S. & Phillips S. (2005). Estimating the global burden of low back pain attributable to combined occupational exposures. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 48(6) 459469.To prepare for this assignment: