Impact of chronic low back pain on military service

The performance of 245 male conscripts with chronic low back pain (CLBP) during military service was compared with their pre-conscription performance and with that of 126 age-matched male controls without low back pain (LBP). The frequency of LBP in the conscripts with CLBP increased significantly during their service period compared to risk before service (odds ratio, 10.35; 95% confidence interval, 3.61-29.52). The same factors that induced LBP before entering service, mainly lifting and carrying, also caused LBP during military service. Of the conscripts with CLBP, 120 had experienced an accidental back injury and 125 had injured their backs during lifting or carrying before entering service. During service, back problems were caused by accidents in 88 cases and by lifting or carrying in 157 cases. The frequency of LBP injuries, measured as the need for medical consultation or treatment, increased 2.4-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.41-4.10) during the term of service. Conscripts with CLBP served significantly more frequently as ordinary soldiers than the controls. There was no difference in participation in leisure time or competitive sports activities between the two groups. The future expectations of the CLBP conscripts were pessimistic: only one-fifth believed in complete recovery, and two-fifths thought that they would need substantial outside help in the future.