{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,27]],"date-time":"2026-03-27T15:15:32Z","timestamp":1774624532406,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,19]],"date-time":"2023-04-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1681862400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004019","name":"National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["N-P03-01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N-P03-01"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004019","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n<jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A quarter of work-related low back pain (LBP) cases result from handling heavy loads in Japan. The maximum weight male\/female workers can handle is 40%\/24% of their body weight but has set a constant load weight in ISO 11228\u20131 and NIOSH lifting equation. The preventive effect of the relative weight limit on LBP has not been clarified. This study aimed to identify the effect of relative weight limits set as body weight percentages on LBP prevalence.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Data from 21924 workers were collected via a web-based survey in 2022. The workers were categorized into three groups: group A, \u201cno handling,\u201d group B, \u201chandling loads up to 40%\/24% or less of body weight,\u201d and group C, \u201chandling loads over 40%\/24% of body weight.\u201d Moreover, they were categorized into eight groups: no handling, 1\u20135 kg, 5\u201310 kg, 10\u201315 kg, 15\u201320 kg, 20\u201325 kg, 25\u201330 kg, and \u226530 kg. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effects of the limits set to body weight percentages and constant load weights on LBP.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>In groups A, B, and C, 25.5%, 39.2%, and 47.3% of males or 16.9%, 26.4%, and 38.0% of females had LBP, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of LBP was significantly greater in group B than in group A and even greater in group C. The OR of LBP among workers handling loads under 10 kg was not significantly different compared to no-handling workers.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>LBP prevalence was greater in group B than in group A but lesser than in group C. Weight limits based on body weight percentages could not eliminate the factor of handling loads. However, handling loads under 10 kg suppressed LBP. Relative weight limits set as body weight percentages were inappropriate and ineffective for preventing LBP.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0284465","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,19]],"date-time":"2023-04-19T17:33:01Z","timestamp":1681925581000},"page":"e0284465","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Effect of relative weight limit set as a body weight percentage on work-related low back pain among workers"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1912-3807","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Kazuyuki","family":"Iwakiri","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Takeshi","family":"Sasaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Midori","family":"Sotoyama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tanghuizi","family":"Du","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Keiichi","family":"Miki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fuyuki","family":"Oyama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0284465.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E281","DOI":"10.1097\/BRS.0b013e318195b257","article-title":"Spinal mechanical load as a risk factor for low back pain: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies","volume":"34","author":"EWP Bakker","year":"2009","journal-title":"Spine"},{"key":"pone.0284465.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"554","DOI":"10.1016\/j.spinee.2010.03.033","article-title":"Causal assessment of occupational lifting and low back pain: results of a systematic review","volume":"10","author":"EK Wai","year":"2010","journal-title":"Spine J"},{"key":"pone.0284465.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1093\/occmed\/kqr092","article-title":"Systematic review: occupational physical activity and low back pain","volume":"61","author":"BK Kwon","year":"2011","journal-title":"Occup Med"},{"key":"pone.0284465.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.5271\/sjweh.1614","article-title":"Low-back pain in commercial travelers","volume":"18","author":"F Pietri","year":"1992","journal-title":"Scand J Work Environ Health"},{"key":"pone.0284465.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00334423","article-title":"Physical loading and performance as predictors of back pain in healthy adults. 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