Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Railway Track-Maintainers in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between low back pain (LBP) and ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors encountered by railway track maintainers in India.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in India. Socio-demographics, ergonomics, and psychosocial risk factors were examined among railway track maintainers. A modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire was also administered to participants. The working posture of the participants was assessed using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). Univariate logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) among participants.

90.3% of railway track maintainers reported low back pain. In the univariate analysis, repetitive work (OR-2.848; 95% CI-1.34-6.051), awkward posture (OR-33.84; 95% CI-12.334-92.896), pulling loads (MMH) (OR- 6.300; 95% CI-2.802 to 14.166), and long working hours (OR- 4.553; 95% CI-1.910 to 10.854) all demonstrated significant relationships with LBP among participants. Psychosocial factors, such as work demand targeting specific productivity (97.3%), monotony of work (91.8%), perceived inadequacy of income (83.3%), and rigidity in work methods (86.4%), have a relationship with LBP. According to the OWAS posture analysis, most of the working postures of railway track maintainers require immediate correction.

The high prevalence of LBP among railway track maintainers and its significant associations with ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors indicate a need to follow suggested preventive measures to avoid LBP.