Increased prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapy students compared to medical students

Abstract

Some studies have demonstrated that physiotherapists have a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP). The association between physiotherapy students, who are potentially exposed to the same LBP occupational risks as graduates, and LBP has never been demonstrated. The objective of the study is to evaluate the association between undergraduate physiotherapy study and LBP. The study design includes a cross-sectional study. A questionnairebased study was carried out with physiotherapy and medical students. LBP was measured as lifetime, 1-year and point prevalence. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find the factors associated with LBP. Bivariate analyses were also performed to assess differences between LBP characteristics in the two courses. 77.9% of the students had LBP at some point in their lives, 66.8% in the last year and 14.4% of them reported they were suffering from LBP at the moment of answering the questionnaire. Physiotherapy students reported a higher prevalence of LBP when compared with the medical students in all measures. In the logistic regression model, physiotherapy students (A-OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.35-4.67; p = 0.003), and being exposed to the undergraduate study for more than four semesters (A-OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.43-4.55; p = 0.001) were independently associated with LBP. There were no differences between the courses concerning pain intensity and disability. As it was a crosssectional study, we were not able to observe accurately if there is an increasing incidence of LBP during the course. Also, we did not intend to identify which activities in the course were associated with the development of LBP. This study clearly demonstrated an association between undergraduate physiotherapy study and LBP. The length of course exposure is also associated with LBP.

Low back pain in physiotherapy students: Prevalence and the association with neuromuscular findings

“…Steyl et al 2010, Karachi et al 2007, Nyland andGrimmer 2003). Compared to four South African cross sectional prevalence studies that relate to whether undergraduate physiotherapy study is a risk factor for LBP (Falavigna et al 2011, Steyl et al 2010, Karachi et al 2007, Nyland and Grimmer 2003, the results of this study are lower; 73% (p=0.03) prevalence of LBP at one university followed by 61% and 57% at two other universities respectively (Karachi et al 2007). Methodological differences of the above studies compared to this study could have influenced results and possibly explain the differences in prevalence rates.…”

Prevalência da dor lombar no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática

“…After the screening process (titles, abstracts, and full text reading), 18 studies 34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51 (with a population of 19,387 individuals and samples varying from 56 to 3,269 participants 34,39 ) met the inclusion criteria. Figure 1 shows flow diagram of this review.…”

“…The principal research design was crosssectional. Data collection used original questionnaires in 50% of the studies 34,37,40,41,42,44,46,49,50 , while the Nordic questionnaire 52 was used in the remaining studies 35,36,38,39,43,45,47,48,51 . In most of the studies, prevalence of low back pain was verified in specific groups of workers or in students.…”

“…Three studies only presented clear definitions of low back pain 40,45,46 , nevertheless using different concepts. No study in this review reported the minimum duration of pain in order to be considerate as an episode of low back pain.…”

Comparison of Elastic Resistance Band Exercises and Yoga in Physiotherapy Students with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Prevalence of various work related musculoskeletal problems (neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, headache etc.) have been studied in various health professionals such as nurses, surgeons, dentists and physiotherapists which show the most common complaint being low back and neck pain [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Many studies have indicated that physiotherapists are at risk of work related musculoskeletal disorders.…”