Spinal shrinkage during a seated break and standing break during simulatednursing tasks

Prevalence rates for back pain in nurses are comparable to rates of workers in heavy industry. Spinal loading is one factor thought to be associated w ith the onset of back problems (Spine 9(2) (1984) 189). Loading can be meas ured indirectly using precision stadiometry, with changes in stature indica ting the magnitude of the loading over time. Ten female subjects completed 4h of simulated nursing activities on two separate occasions. The two trial s were identical except that subjects were asked to sit for a 20-min break in one and stand for a 20-min break in the other trial. Heart rate, discomf ort, rating of perceived exertion and spinal shrinkage were recorded at var ious intervals throughout testing. Spinal shrinkage was significantly less during the seated trial than the standing trial (p <0.05). It is suggested that a seated break during a nursing shift may reduce the potential of suff ering back problems resulting from spinal loading. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.