Introduction: Construction workers have physically demanding job, which consists of repetetive lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, twisting, bending and other non-neutral trunk positions. An annual prevalence of low back pain among construction workers is 51 %. Low endurance of trunk extensor muscles is an important risk factor for developing low back pain. Biering-Sorensen test is used for evaluating the isometric endurance of trunk extensor muscles. Purpose: The aims of the master thesis were to gather normative data on Biering-Sorensen times in construction workers, to evaluate the discriminative validity of the Biering-Sorensen test and to examine the correlation between results of Biering-Sorensen test and Oswestry disability index. Methods: We included 81 construction workers in this study. Trunk extensor muscle endurance was measured by using Biering-Sorensen test. To assess the functional disability level of low back pain, subjects fulfilled Oswestry disability index. Results: The mean position holding time of the Biering-Sorensen test for the total sample was 146,0 ± 59,3 s. The mean position holding time of the subjects without prior low back pain was 172,8 ± 48,7 s and of the subjects with prior low back pain was 95,3 ± 42,3 s. The difference between the subjects with and without prior low back pain was statistically significant (p < 0,05). A statistically significant strong negative correlation between results of Biering-Sorensen test and Oswestry disability index was found (r = - 0,79; p < 0,05). Discussion and conclusion: The mean position holding time of the Biering-Sorensen test in construction workers was 146 s. Biering-Sorensen test showed a good ability to differentiate between construction workers with and without prior low back pain. Trunk extensor muscle endurance had an important impact on the disability level of low back pain.
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