Factors predisposing to work-related lower back pain in automobile industry workers

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to assess the presence of lower back pain (LBP) in automobile industrial workers and correlate it with the factors known to be contributing to the development of work-related LBP. Method. Post ethical approval, an analytical cross-sectional assessment was conducted for a correlation study on 317 workers from different automobile industries, garages and service centres, who were then assessed by Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire for the presence of LBP. Their pain intensity was assessed using a numerical rating scale, their core strength with a pressure biofeedback unit, their flexibility via the sitting and reach test and their work posture with the rapid entire body assessment tool. Pain intensity was correlated with core strength, flexibility and posture in all of the workers using Spearman’s correlation coefficient r with α set at p ≤ 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval. Results. There was no significant correlation of the pain intensity with the core strength (r = 0.052, p = 0.424), flexibility (r = 0.020, p = 0.755) or posture (r = 0.002, p = 0.974). Conclusion. The present study indicates that internal factors like core strength and flexibility, and work postures have no correlation with intensity and severity of LBP in automobile industry workers.

Keywords:

• core strength
• rapid entire body assessment
• flexibility
• posture

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge all of the companies and garages for permitting the study to be conducted on their premises. The authors also wish to acknowledge all of the participants who consented for participation in present study and Dr Nidhi Seth for her valuable contribution.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Apurv Shimpi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6010-4296