Physical characteristics of the back are not predictive of low back pain in healthy workers: A prospective study

Table 4 Risk factors for LBP lasting seven or more consecutive days after one year of follow-up (LBP at t1) in multivariate analyses.

Asymptomatic workers^a
			LBP at t1		UNIVARIATE ANALYSES			MULTIVARIATE ANALYSES
		n	n	%	RR	95%CI	P-value	RR	95%CI	P-value
Body mass index (kg/m²)	Normal	228	20	8.8	1.00		0.056	1.00		0.056
	Overweight	63	4	6.3	0.72	(0.25 – 2.12)		0.72	(0.25 – 2.12)
	(≥25 and <30)
	Obese (≥ 30)	31	7	22.6	2.57	(1.09–6.09)		2.57	(1.09 – 6.09)
Mildly symptomatic workers ^b
Current LBP (reported before the physical examination)	No	322	49	15.2	1.00		0.007	1.00		0.024
	Yes	4	3	75.0	4.93	(1.54–15.81)		3.89	(1.20 – 12.64)
Difference in excursion of the middle finger on the thigh between lateral flexion to the right and to the left (cm)
					1.00		0.014	1.00		0.023
					0.77	(0.62–0.95)		0.78	(0.63–0.97)

RR = relative risk/95%CI = 95% confidence interval
^a Cox-regression, backward selection, p_in = 0.20, p_out = 0.05. Adjusted additionally for the fingertip-to-floor distance, age and gender.
^b Cox-regression, backward selection, p_in = 0.20, p_out = 0.05. Adjusted additionally for the difference between the range of straight-leg-raising right-left (degrees), age and gender.

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