There are some employers who offer special training and some other measures to help their employees to avoid back pain due to lifting heavy objects.

Finnish researchers have reviewed the results of 11 studies which compared back pain prevention interventions with each other and found no difference in outcomes between the groups.

The above mentioned studies included eight trials and three trials that involved health care workers who were charged with moving patients and the workers in the baggage handling and postal industries respectively. The studies were organized as a training programs, where the workers were taught how to lift correctly, the use of back belts to support the back during lifting, physical exercise to keep the back in better shape and several combinations of these measures. Some of the studies also compared people who received some kind of intervention to those who received no help at all.

However, no significant differences in back pain were found among any of the groups.

According to study authors, there may be two explanations to these results- one is, either the interventions just don't work, and the other may be employees don't properly implement them in their everyday jobs.

Whatever the case, the authors believe on the need of more study on job-related back pain.