Active clinical trials for "Back Injuries"

Purpose and Aims: The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical effectiveness of back and core exercise interventions for low back injury prevention in firefighters. Aim 1. Compare the effectiveness of 2 worksite exercise interventions (supervised, web-based) relative to control to reduce lost work days related to low back injury and illness in firefighters. Relevance: Low back injury is one of the most common and disabling disorders in firefighters. Thus, novel interventions are needed to counteract the adverse consequences of this disorder and its impact on firefighter safety. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in career, full active duty firefighters (n = 345) who will be randomly assigned (by fire station) to 1 of 3 intervention groups - 1) supervised exercise (n = 115), 2) web-based exercise (n = 115), or 3) control (n = 115). Participants in the supervised and web-based exercise groups will perform back and core exercises previously tested in our recent FEMA-funded grant (EMW-2009-FP-00418), twice per week for 12 months while on duty, in addition to their usual physical fitness routine - The supervised group will perform exercise under direct supervision of certified exercise specialists, and the web-based group will utilize a web-based exercise system. The control group will not perform back and core exercises, but will continue their usual physical fitness routine and receive brief education on general exercise and physical activity principles. Outcome measures include low back injury and illness data obtained and cross-checked from various sources, other standard clinical outcome measures for low back pain and disability, and validated physical fitness tests. Anticipated Outcomes: We hypothesize that the supervised and web-based interventions will reduce lost work days related to low back injury and illness by 40% compared with control. Assuming positive results, this study will deliver an evidence-based exercise intervention for low back injury prevention specifically designed for firefighters and assessed in a full-scale randomized controlled trial.

This study is one of several initiated by the investigators to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in patient care providers. Nurses have one of the highest incidences of work related back injuries of any profession. Over the past 20 years, efforts to reduce work-related injuries in nursing have been largely unsuccessful.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders(MSD)are very common，which account for most of the occupational compensation in U.S.A。According to the epidemiological surveys，injured sites are frequent at low back，neck and shoulder and upper extremity。Although the MSD will not threaten the lives，they result in discomfort，some cost much and decrease the productivity。There was little study in our country to reveal the risk factors of medical utilization and disabling of MSD。Therefore，we do not have well-established strategy of the assessment and treatment for the workers who can not return to work。The purposes of this study are：1、To have sequential surveys to find the prevalence，incidence and possible risk factors of work-related MSD of employees in different industries and their medical utilization and disabled conditions。2、To find the victims of work-related MSD from clinics，assess their disablement and if they return to work and to find the factors those prevent them return to work。3、To develop individualized work hardening programs for the victims who can not return to wok after treatment。The program will be established according to their injuries and their work characteristics。

This study evaluate the effect of the a low back self-application of myofascial release using a foam rolling on back muscles endurance measured by the Biering-Sorensen test.

The study will measure and compare range of motion (ROM), motion during simulated activities of daily living ADL), tissue interface pressure (TIP), muscle activation (EMG), and trunk stiffness and damping measurements (TSD) for two pairs of back braces: Postural TLSO (456), and TLSO (464).