| Summary: | Abstract Sciatica is a common musculoskeletal disorder, especially 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. The neurological deficit resulting from this compression can be either sensory or motor-related. Earlier studies have shown both genetic and environmental factors to exist in the aetiology of sciatica. The aim of this study was to investigate how individual, physical and work-related risk factors associate with 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. 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. Physically demanding work, smoking and obesity were found to predict an increased risk of hospitalization for sciatica. In the Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey, leisure-time physical activity protected men from hospitalization for sciatica, whereas among women obesity increased this risk. Occupation also modified the effects of various risk factors. In the Mini-Finland Health Survey, overweight and obese participants who had been exposed to whole body vibration in their work were at a higher risk of hospitalization due to sciatica. In addition, lifting and carrying heavy objects at work, or sedentary work involving the handling of heavy objects predicted an increased risk of hospitalization for sciatica. Heavy or very heavy work protected against hospitalization for sciatica. A meta-analysis of four prospective cohort studies showed that walking and cycling to ...
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