Frequency of Low Back Pain and Its Association with Functional Ability in Engineers: Low Back Pain and its Association with Functional Ability

Somiya Naz; Muhammad  Talha; Pervisha  Nazir; Sabahat  Talat; Hassan  Raza khan; Hamza  Shahid

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v4i04.658

Authors

Somiya Naz Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Muhammad Talha Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Pervisha Nazir Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Sabahat Talat Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Hassan Raza khan Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Hamza Shahid Department of Physiotherapy, Margalla Institute of Health Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v4i04.658

Keywords:

Functional Ability, Low Back Pain, Prevalence, Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common health problem among workers; most workers experience this issue during their lives. There are some psycho-social factors interlinked with LBP including hostile work environments, long working hours & overtime working hours. Objective: To determine the frequency of low back pain in engineers and to evaluate the association between functional ability and low back pain in engineers. Methods: A descriptive Cross-Sectional study was conducted, and the data were collected through a convenient sampling technique from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Malakand. The duration of the study was 6 months after synopsis approval. Data collection were done using a self-structured questionnaire containing demographic data and clinical characteristics. Visual analogue scale for pain (VAS pain) and Back pain functional scale (BPFS) were used to assess pain and functional abilities. Results: There were 85.9% Males and 24.1% females in this study. The point prevalence of LBP was 36.7% and the 12-month prevalence was 63.3%. There was a moderate association found between the severity of LBP and functional ability [(r= -0.59), p < 0.001]. Conclusions: The study concluded that the prevalence of LBP is found in engineers. A moderately significant association was found between the severity of LBP and functional ability in engineers.

References

Yang H, Haldeman S, Lu ML, Baker D. Low back pain prevalence and related workplace psychosocial risk factors: a study using data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2016 Sep; 39(7): 459-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.07.004.

Elders LA and Burdorf A. Interrelations of risk factors and low back pain in scaffolders. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2001 Sep; 58(9): 597-603. doi: 10.1136/oem.58.9.597.

Petersen RD and Marziale MH. Low back pain characterized by muscle resistance and occupational factors associated with nursing. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem. 2014 May; 22: 386-93. doi: 10.1590/0104-1169.3321.2428.

Pillai D and Haral P. Prevalence of low back pain in sitting vs standing postures in working professionals in the age group of 30-60. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research. 2018 Oct; 8(10): 131-7.

Shipton EA. Physical therapy approaches in the treatment of low back pain. Pain and Therapy. 2018 Dec; 7: 127-37. doi: 10.1007/s40122-018-0105-x.

Kauser MS, Yadav M, Jaffery MB, Shankar C, Hymavati SK, Dey K. Effect of elastic bands as resistance for low back pain treatment in software engineers. Indian Journal of Anatomy and Surgery of Head, Neck and Brain. 2020 Sep; 6(3): 1-5. doi: 10.18231/j.ijashnb.2020.024.

Aparajita NW and Astini DA. Relationship between work position and the occurence of low back pain among aircraft maintenance engineer of PT. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2018 Nov; 434(1): 012154. doi: 10.1088/1757-899X/434/1/012154.

Olana AT. Occupational risk factors of low back pain among ammunition engineering industry in West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia, 2017. Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics. 2018; 45: 31-6.

Hameed PS. Prevalence of work related low back pain among the information technology professionals in India a cross sectional study. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research. 2013 Jul; 2(7): 80-5.

Workneh BS and Mekonen EG. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Low Back Pain Among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Orthopedic Research and Reviews. 2021 Feb; 13: 25-33. doi: 10.2147/ORR.S300823.

Rantonen J, Karppinen J, Vehtari A, Luoto S, Viikari-Juntura E, Hupli M, et al. Effectiveness of three interventions for secondary prevention of low back pain in the occupational health setting-a randomised controlled trial with a natural course control. BMC Public Health. 2018 Dec; 18(1): 1-3. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5476-8.

Chiarotto A, Maxwell LJ, Ostelo RW, Boers M, Tugwell P, Terwee CB. Measurement properties of visual analogue scale, numeric rating scale, and pain severity subscale of the brief pain inventory in patients with low back pain: a systematic review. The Journal of Pain. 2019 Mar; 20(3): 245-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.07.009.

Dorien G, De Pauw Robby MM, Tine W, Barbara C. Lumbar muscle structure and function in chronic versus recurrent low back pain. Peripheral back muscle dysfunctions and central pain mechanisms. The Spine Journal. 2017 Sep; 17(9): 1285-96. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2017.04.025.

Alzahrani H, Mackey M, Stamatakis E, Zadro JR, Shirley D. The association between physical activity and low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Scientific Reports. 2019 Jun; 9(1): 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44664-8.

Deyo RA. Early diagnostic evaluation of low back pain. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 1986 Sep; 1(5): 328-38. doi: 10.1007/BF02596214.

Ekechukwu EN, Aguwa EN, Okeke TA, Iroezindu IC, Onyia SU, Abaraogu DO, et al. Prevalence, correlates and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian physiotherapy and architecture undergraduates. Journal of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy. 2020 Nov; 19(1): 8-18.

Adhikari B, Ghimire A, Jha N, Karkee R, Shrestha A, Dhakal R, et al. Factors associated with low back pain among construction workers in Nepal: A cross-sectional study. PloS One. 2021 Jun; 16(6): e0252564. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252564.

Rajguru V and Mangle KM. Evaluation of Risk of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Professional Architects. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. 2020 Oct; 10(10): 311-5.

Grabovac I and Dorner TE. Association between low back pain and various everyday performances: Activities of daily living, ability to work and sexual function. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. 2019 Nov; 131(21-22): 541-9. doi: 10.1007/s00508-019-01542-7.

Sakulsriprasert P, Vachalathiti R, Kingcha P. Association among pain, disability, and functional capacity in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2021 Jan; 34(1): 149-57. doi: 10.3233/BMR-200168.