Can a New Behaviorally Oriented Training Process to Improve Lifting Technique Prevent Occupationally Related Back Injuries Due to Lifting?

In Brief Study Design. A prospective randomized control trial. Objective. To determine the degree to which a new behavior-based lift training program (LiftTrainer™; Ascension Technology, Burlington, VT) could reduce the incidence of low back disorder in distribution center jobs that require repetitive lifting. Summary of Background Data. Most studies show programs aimed at training lifting techniques to be ineffective in preventing low back disorders, which may be due to their conceptual rather than behavioral learning approach. Methods. A total of 2144 employees in 19 distribution centers were randomized into either the LiftTrainer™ program or a video control group. In the LiftTrainer™ program, participants were individually trained in up to 5, 30-minute sessions while instrumented with motion capture sensors to quantify the L5/S1 moments. Twelve months following the initial training, injury data were obtained from company records. Results. Survival analyses (Kaplan-Meier) indicated that there was no difference in injury rates between the 2 training groups. Likewise, there was no difference in the turnover rates. However, those with a low (<30 Nm) average twisting moment at the end of the first session experienced a significantly (P < 0.005) lower rate of low back disorder than controls. Conclusions. While overall the LiftTrainer™ program was not effective, those with twisting moments below 30 Nm reported fewer injuries, suggesting a shift in focus for “safe” lifting programs. A behaviorally oriented training process to improve lifting technique was prospectively studied in distribution center workers. Overall, the behavioral training process, which included individualized coaching and quantitative measurement of triaxial spine moments, did not prevent injuries relative to controls. However, those with low twisting moments reported fewer injuries.