Differences in low back pain occurrence over a 6-month period between four recovery-stress groups

Psychosocial work factors and general recovery experiences are hypothesised to influence the risk of low back pain (LBP) occurrence by influencing the acute recovery-stress state. So far, however, direct links between the acute recovery-stress state and LBP occurrence have not been investigated in detail.

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in low back pain occurrence between four distinct recovery-stress groups over a period of 6 month.

A prospective cohort study with a 3-month and 6-month follow-up measurement was conducted in a sample of administrative employees (N = 271). First, the sample was divided into four distinct recovery-stress groups by cluster analysis. Subsequently, differences in LBP occurrence between these four groups and the Relative Risk (RR) were analysed.

Overall, groups with higher stress than recovery scores showed a higher risk of LBP occurrence compared to those groups with lower stress than recovery scores. Furthermore, the group with the highest stress and lowest recovery scores showed a significant higher proportion of LBP occurrence after six months than the group with the lowest stress and highest recovery scores (RR = 7.29).

The results indicate the relevance of the acute recovery-stress state for LBP occurrence.