Socio-demographic and physical-functional profile of low back pain patients assisted in Manaus/AM

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is a common pathological condition in the social environment, especially in industrialized societies, and is a frequent cause of morbidity and incapacity, being overcome only by headache in the scale of painful disorders which affect people. This study aimed at establishing the socio-demographic and physical-functional profile of patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain of specific and nonspecific origin, treated in a private physiotherapy institution of the city of Manaus/AM. METHODS: This is a retrospective and descriptive study with quantitative approach, which has evaluated 151 medical charts, of which two were excluded for having less than 18 years of age, generating a database of 149 participants. Results were presented by descriptive statistics through central trend and variability measures, as well as by absolute and relative distribution. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain was 17.3%, primarily affecting males (55%) and industrial production workers (25.2%) with mean age of 40.7±13.2 years. There were associated diseases in 51.6% (n=33). When submitted to palpation, 77.6% (n=85) have referred pain. According to body mass index calculation, 57.1% (n=28) of patients were considered overweighed; 90.0% (n=45) had abnormal postural pattern, 82.5% (n=80) had decreased lumbar spine-related movement amplitude and 55.3% (n=26) had decreased lumbar spine-related muscle strength. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic profile was characterized by male patients, as from the third decade of life and industrial production workers. Physical-functional profile was primarily characterized by patients with overweight and postural changes, pain at palpation and decreased lumbar region joint amplitude.