Epidemiology of work-related lower back pain among rehabilitation professionals in Saudi Arabia

Occupational and physical therapists are at risk of musculoskeletal pain and injuries possibly due to their work-related activities, posture and affected body mechanics.

To investigate the epidemiology of lower back pain among rehabilitation professionals.

A cross-sectional survey of 259 physical and occupational therapists in rehabilitation centres in Saudi Arabia was conducted during July-August 2019, using the Modified Nordic Questionnaire. Data on different measures of lower back pain, and its consequences and risk factors were collected. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify significant predictors of lower back pain.

Rehabilitation professionals experienced 73.7% 1-year lower back pain prevalence, 52.5% intense pain that lasted ≥ 1 day, 22.4% chronic lower back pain, 23.9% sick-leave-seeking lower back pain and 18.5% medical-care-seeking lower back pain. Difficult/impossible activities of daily living in standing up (45.5%), employment (44.0%), climbing stairs (33.9%), walking (33.0%), sitting (29.3%), sleeping and travel (29.8% each), awakening (23.0%), social life (26.2%), and personal care (15.7%) were reported. Lower back pain was responsible for stopping work in 32.5% of participants, with a mean 1.38 (±2.96) days off work during the last year. One half of participants (50.3%) were treated by physiotherapy, 25.1% by medical care, and 39.3% requested rest days and/or sick leave. Physical stress and < 10 years' experience were significant predictors of lower back pain.

Prevalence of lower back pain was high among rehabilitation professionals, with a high impact on activities of daily living. Physiotherapy was the main management adopted. Educational programmes are necessary to teach proper use of body mechanics, and sports activity programmes to reduce the risk of lower back pain and arrange for proper rest periods.