Risk factors for sciatica
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Faculty of Medicine, Auditorium F202, Aapistie 5B
Topic of the dissertation
Risk factors for sciatica
Doctoral candidate
Licentiate of Medicine Ulla Euro
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Life Course Health Research
Subject of study
Physiatry
Opponent
Docent Marja Mikkelsson, The Päijät-Häme Joint Authority for Health and Wellbeing (PHHYKY)
Custos
Professor Jaro Karppinen, University of Oulu, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Work-related exposures and life-style factors increase the risk of sciatica
Exposure to whole body vibration at work increase the risk of hospitalization for sciatica among overweight and obese participants. Lifting and carrying heavy objects at work or sedentary work involving the handling of heavy objects predicted an increased risk of sciatica.
Walking and cycling to work protected against hospitalization for sciatica. The results of this study showed that sciatic symptoms are already common among adolescents. Young women in particular reported sciatic pain more often than men.
Low back pain at the age of 16 predicted sciatic pain at the age of 18. The aim of this study was to investigate how individual, physical and work-related risk factors associate with the hospitalization for sciatica and to determine the prevalence of sciatic pain among Finnish adolescents.
The data used in this study were from large, population-based Finnish surveys: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, The Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey, the Mini-Finland Health Survey, Health 2000, the Young Finns Study, and the Helsinki Health Studies.
Sciatica is a common musculoskeletal disorder among the working-age population. It causes huge costs to society through work absenteeism and hospital treatments. The common cause of sciatica is the herniated lumbar disc compressing the nerve root and causing pain in the low back radiating to the lower limb. Results of this study show that risk factors for sciatica are complex and can modify each other’s effects.
Walking and cycling to work protected against hospitalization for sciatica. The results of this study showed that sciatic symptoms are already common among adolescents. Young women in particular reported sciatic pain more often than men.
Low back pain at the age of 16 predicted sciatic pain at the age of 18. The aim of this study was to investigate how individual, physical and work-related risk factors associate with the hospitalization for sciatica and to determine the prevalence of sciatic pain among Finnish adolescents.
The data used in this study were from large, population-based Finnish surveys: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, The Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey, the Mini-Finland Health Survey, Health 2000, the Young Finns Study, and the Helsinki Health Studies.
Sciatica is a common musculoskeletal disorder among the working-age population. It causes huge costs to society through work absenteeism and hospital treatments. The common cause of sciatica is the herniated lumbar disc compressing the nerve root and causing pain in the low back radiating to the lower limb. Results of this study show that risk factors for sciatica are complex and can modify each other’s effects.
Last updated: 1.3.2023