Date of Graduation

2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Dianne McMullin

Abstract

This study utilized six subjects from the West Virginia University Motor pool, whose exposure to whole-body vibrations were measured and reported as root mean squared (r.m.s.) values in accordance with ISO standard 2631. Each subject completed a questionnaire regarding their general health, and specifically whether they experienced low back pain, and if so, the extent and severity of this pain. It was expected that the individuals subjected to the highest vibration levels would tend to report LBP, with severity of pain increasing with the intensity of exposure. This study did not support that belief. However, it may be that chronic exposure to whole-body vibration is a stronger predictor than daily expose levels. Indeed, data analyses of the number of years of occupational driving and the severity of Low Back Pain resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.686, which is significant at = 0.10, but not significant at = 0.05.

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