Work-related risk factors for low back pain in firefighters. Is exercise helpful?

The aim of this study was to research the correlation between work-related physical risk factors and LBP pain and to examine the contribution of exercise among firefighters. In this study, a questionnaire survey was carried out among fully paid firefighters in Greece. Statistical analyses used were frequencies, Chi-square test and binary logistic regression. The study population consisted of 3,451 fully paid firefighters. Among the responders of the research, 30 % (n = 1,037) were reported to have LBP. There was a significant association between ‘job position’, ‘work time’ (years in current position), ‘weight lifting’, ‘exercise’, ‘age’, smoking, ‘gender’ and LBP (p < 0.05). The odds ratios (OR) of LBP were significantly greater: (a) in rescuers than in drivers, in comparison to officer firefighters; (b) in women than in men; (c) those who worked ‘more than 5 years’ than those working ‘between 1 and 5 years’; (d) those who do exercise ‘1–5 h per week’ than those doing exercise ‘more than 5 h/week’, in comparison to those who do ‘no exercise’, and those who lift more than 25 kg than those whose weight lifting is over 10 kg. In conclusion, improvements in job techniques and special exercise programs can contribute to the reduction of LBP symptoms in the future.