Abstract
Purpose and background
Lower back pain is a leading cause of disability and a common condition seen by osteopaths. Evidence and advice for the safest lifting posture vary, as do healthcare practitioners' attitudes towards back pain.
The aim of this study was to understand osteopaths' beliefs about safe lifting postures, their attitudes towards back pain, and to compare these findings with published data from physiotherapists and manual handling advisors.
Methods and results
A cross-sectional electronic survey was used to invite a sample of UK osteopaths to select images that best represent their perception of safe lifting posture (straight or rounded back), and to complete the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ, Appendix 1). Data was analysed to assess lifting posture selection and relationship to back pain attitudes.
46 (85.2%) out of 54 osteopaths selected straight back posture as safest, these participants had significantly more negative attitudes to back pain injury (i.e. higher Back-PAQ scores), than the 8 osteopaths who selected a rounded back posture (p = 0.007). Data from 266 physiotherapists and 132 manual handling advisors revealed an overall agreement about straight back lifting posture, however revealed differences in Back-PAQ attitude between the professions.
Conclusion
Despite a lack of evidence base and inconsistent recommendations, osteopaths in this survey and other healthcare practitioners believe that straight back lifting posture is the safest. Practitioners' attitudes vary and are known to influence their patients' attitudes and recovery behaviour. Further research is recommended to identify reasons for different beliefs, and their impact on advice-giving and patient outcomes.
Conflicts of interest: None
Sources of funding for the research: None
