Diagnostic methods of the impact on the life’s quality of lumbar pain syndromes in workers of harmful industries

Occupational diseases associated with pain syndrome in the lower part are one of the most common causes of physical and psychological health disorders. Lower back pain (LBP) also affects labor productivity and the social sphere of life and is becoming an increasingly important factor in the growth of medical care costs.

The study aims to research a comprehensive study of the impact of chronic LBP on the quality of life of workers in unfavorable conditions of metallurgical production.

Experts have carried out a hygienic assessment of working conditions according to the data of the special assessment of working conditions cards, a questionnaire (a questionnaire of disorders of vital activity in Oswestrovsky's lower back pain, a questionnaire of McGill's pain) and a clinical examination of 132 employees (men) of various industries of the metallurgical enterprise. We analyzed the results of additional instrumental examination methods: radiography of the lumbar spine and electroneuromyography of the nerves of the lower extremities.

Under the working conditions of workers of the leading professions of metallurgical production, combined and combined effects of harmful production factors are characteristic, the integral assessment of which corresponds to сlass 3.2. The severity of the labor process among employees of the studied professions was within classes 2.0.–3.1. According to the McGill questionnaire experts have found statistically significant differences in the main occupational groups: the highest pain indicators were in the group of wire-drawing workers (index — 7.5±4.9; rank — 14.6±10.2) and drivers of intra-factory vehicles (index — 6.9±4.4; rank — 15.1±11.3). After the treatment there were positive dynamics in the values of rank indicators on the affective and evaluative scales (p<0.05). Researchers have identified statistically significant differences between all the studied groups (F=2.55, p=0.041), when using the Oswestrovsky questionnaire. There were degenerative-dystrophic changes of the spine on radiographs of the lumbar spine. According to the results of an electroneuromyographic study, the authors revealed signs of dysfunction at the level of segments L5-S1-2 of the lumbosacral spine.

As a result of the study, we have revealed the relationship between the early detection of disorders of the musculoskeletal system with the peculiarities of the labor process and the deterioration of the quality of worker’s life in the production of hardware. To assess the intensity of LBP in workers engaged in harmful working conditions, it is possible to use the McGill and Oswestrovsky pain questionnaires. The detection of pain syndrome and early rehabilitation in people with occupational diseases of the musculoskeletal system contributes to prolonging the working age and improving the quality of life in people with physical overload in the workplace.

Contribution:
Bakirov A.B. — the concept and design of the study
Salavatova L.H. — writing the text
Abdrakhmanova E.R. — writing the text
Masyagutova L.M. — the concept and design of the study
Alakaeva R.A. — selection and translation of literature
Gabdulvaleeva E.F. — selection and translation of literature
Khafizova A.S. — selection and translation of literature
All authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 19.01.2022 / Accepted: 19.04.2022 / Published: 25.05.2022

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