Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that occur together, increasing one’s risk for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. A recent study involving 656 healthcare workers who experienced an episode of lower back pain in the previous year found that those with metabolic syndrome reported higher levels of disability related to their back pain. The findings suggest that addressing metabolic syndrome may be an effective way to reduce disability due to low back pain.
International Journal of Occupation of Medical Environmental Health, November 2017