Prevalence Of Low Back Pain Research Articles

Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Association Factors Among Operating Room Personnel of Ahvaz Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder among healthcare specialty nurses. Operating room staff are particularly susceptible to experiencing low back pain due to the nature of their work. Objectives: We conducted a study to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and the factors associated with it. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 323 operating room staff from five hospitals affiliated with Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Data was collected using a questionnaire developed by Tavakol et al. This questionnaire included demographic information and assessed the prevalence and dimensions of low back pain. The data was analyzed using IBM SPSS v.26. Results: The results showed that the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) was 74.3%. In this study, 64.8% of the personnel were women, 63.5% were married, and 72.4% had a bachelor's degree. Additionally, 87% had no history of smoking. The average age was 33.83 ± 7.02 years. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of LBP and gender (P = 0.044), marital status (P = 0.0001), BMI (P = 0.008), age (P = 0.0001), shift work (P = 0.001), work experience (P = 0.0001), and the average number of shifts (P = 0.037). Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of LBP among operating room personnel, which is related to both individual and occupational factors. Our recommendations for nursing managers include modifying work shifts, allocating less physically demanding tasks to senior personnel and females, and implementing educational programs that focus on improving ergonomics and reducing physical strain.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Work-Related, Non-Specific Low Back Pain Among Physiotherapists in Ahmedabad City

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is the major public health problem across the world. Physiotherapy professionals are more prone to work related LBP because they are linked to major physical efforts such as transfers and patient handling manoeuvres, uncomfortable or prolonged working positions, trunk flexion and rotation movements and reactions to a fall or unexpected movement by the patient. LBP is a multifactorial condition. Various factors like, personal, biomechanical, psychosocial and organisational are associated with work related LBP among physiotherapists. Methodology: A link to an online self-questionnaire was sent to physiotherapists working in Ahmedabad city since last 12 months. The various patterns of practice were compared with regard to the prevalence of LBP, the total number of days with LBP during last 12 months, and the degree of exposure to organisational, biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors. Results: The result was carried out by using Microsoft excel. Results showed that there is 95% prevalence of work-related low back pain among physiotherapists specifically, those working since last 12 months. The mean score of NPRS was 7. Conclusion: There is significant prevalence of work-related low back pain among physiotherapists in Ahmedabad city. Keywords: physiotherapists, work-related, low back pain, Ahmedabad city

Analysis of Influencing Factors for Chronic Low Back Pain with Cognitive Impairment

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common complication in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients, and its progression increases the risk of dementia. However, there is currently a lack of predictive indicators for CLBP-CI. Previous studies have shown that routine blood indexes have predictive value for Alzheimer’s disease, but their relationship with CLBP-CI remains unclear. This study aims to explore the correlation between routine blood indexes and provide evidence of disparities in chronic pain and cognitive impairment between two groups of individuals with low back pain, as well as establish the foundation for longitudinal experimental studies aimed at developing effective interventions for cognitive impairment in individuals with chronic low back pain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was conducted to divide patients into the CLBP-CI or CLBP-nCI group. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the differences between chronic low back pain patients with cognitive impairment and those without cognitive impairment. All statistical tests were conducted at a significance level of α=0.05 for two-sided testing. Results: The prevalence of chronic low back pain with cognitive impairment in this study demonstrates age-related disparities, with a higher prevalence observed among older individuals (P=0.009). A statistically significant difference in white blood cell count was observed between individuals with chronic low back pain and cognitive impairment (P=0.004). Conclusion: Age and white blood cell count may serve as influential factors in the development of chronic low back pain with cognitive impairment. This finding can aid healthcare professionals in implementing early intervention and treatment for individuals experiencing this condition.

PREVALENCE OF NON-SPECIFIC LOW BACK PAIN DUE TO JOB-RELATED STRESS AMONG SECURITY GUARDS

Background of the study: This research aimed to determine the prevalence of nonspecific low back pain due to job-related stress among security guards. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey in Sahiwal involved 130 security guards from various educational institutes. They were chosen through random sampling, meeting criteria of age 18-60 years, job duration over 1 year, and weekly work hours >30. Job stress and pain severity were assessed using a self-made questionnaire and numeric pain rating scale (NPRS), with data analyzed using SPSS version 22. Result: Low back pain prevailed in 87.7% of the security guards. Moreover, 73.8% of security guards showed fear of losing their jobs, 64.5% faced family stress and 83.1% of participants felt pressured. The cross tab chi-square test was applied to check the association` between stress and low backache, and results showed that 87.7% had both stress and low backache (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that non-specific low back pain is common among security guards, particularly in the age range of 40 to 60. Job-related stress factors, such as fear of job loss, on-the-job pressure, and financial stress, were identified as significant contributors to the majority of low back pain cases in this profession.

An Observational Study of Various Risk Factors and Etiological Profile in Patients with Lower Back Pain at Tertiary Care Center.

The study aimed to analyze the risk factors and etiological profile of lower back pain (LBP) among patients attending a neurology outpatient department at a tertiary care center. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, involving 170 patients, aged over 18, presenting with LBP between March and August 2023. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected, and diagnostic investigations, including X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were performed. Patients were categorized into acute and chronic LBP groups for analysis. Age-acute LBP was more prevalent in younger patients (<35 years), while chronic LBP was predominant in older age-groups (≥55 years). Gender-females showed a higher prevalence of LBP compared to males, with chronic LBP more common among females. Triggering events-heavy weightlifting was a significant trigger for chronic LBP, while coughing/sneezing was common in acute LBP. Occupation-patients with physically exerting jobs were more prone to acute LBP, while chronic LBP was prevalent among homemakers and those with no work. Body mass index (BMI)-obesity and overweight were associated with chronic LBP. Medication-chronic LBP patients were more likely to be on medication compared to acute LBP patients. MRI findings-prolapsed intervertebral disk (PIVD) was the most prevalent etiology, more common in chronic LBP patients. Other etiologies included vertebral fracture, tumor, tuberculosis, and various spinal conditions. Lower back pain is a multifaceted condition influenced by age, gender, BMI, and lifestyle factors. Effective management and prevention strategies should consider these risk factors to improve patients' quality of life. A comprehensive approach is essential to address the complex etiology of LBP.

The Impact of Ergonomic Technology on the Prevalence of Work-Related Low Back Pain Among Physical Therapists in the South West Bank

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent work-related musculoskeletal disorder that significantly impacts the health and productivity of physical therapists. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of work-related low back pain (WRLBP) among physical therapists in the South West Bank of Palestine, identify the associated risk factors, and develop effective prevention and control strategies. A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing online questionnaires to collect data from 77 physical therapists working in various healthcare settings. Descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test were used to analyze the data, revealing that 94.8% of participants experienced LBP, with factors such as gender, daily working hours, and prolonged bad posture being significantly associated with LBP. The impact of LBP on job performance and absenteeism was substantial, with many participants reporting reduced work efficiency and frequent absences. The findings underscore the need for targeted ergonomic interventions and posture education to mitigate the high prevalence of LBP among physical therapists.

Comparative Review of the Socioeconomic Burden of Lower Back Pain in the United States and Globally.

Internationally, the United States (U.S.) cites the highest cost burden of low back pain (LBP). The cost continues to rise, faster than the rate of inflation and overall growth of health expenditures. We performed a comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed and non- peer-reviewed literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for contemporary data on prevalence, cost, and projected future costs. Policymakers in the U.S. have long attempted to address the high-cost burden of LBP through limiting low-value services and early imaging. Despite these efforts, costs (~$40 billion; ~$2,000/patient/yr) continue to rise with increasing rates of unindicated imaging, high rates of surgery, and subsequent revision surgery without proper trial of non-pharmacologic measures and no corresponding reduction in LBP prevalence. Globally, the overall prevalence of LBP continues to rise largely secondary to a growing aging population. Cost containment methods should focus on careful and comprehensive clinical assessment of patients to better understand when more resource-intensive interventions are indicated.

Efficacy of McKenzie, Maitland Mobilisation and Myofascial Release in Chronic Low Back Pain

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Myofascial Release, Mc Kenzie and Maitland Mobilisation in Chronic Low back Pain and find out the effects of Myofascial Release, Mc Kenzie and Maitland Mobilisation in Chronic Low back Pain. Background: Low back pain is defined as the pain that occurs in an area with boundaries between the lowest rib and the crease of the buttocks. It is one of the most common complain of working-age population. Low back pain is associated with deconditioning of spine and trunk due to lack of core strength and stability in which 60-80% of general population suffer with high recurrence rates of 60 - 85% within following three years. The global prevalence of LBP as 7.3%. Activities that are required for daily living are affected because of LBP. The significance of disability is created because of LBP. The lumbosacral, sacroiliac and lumbar regions are the main regions of LBP. Pain in the back region that lasts for more than three months is called chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Lower?back pain (LBP) is seen in all age groups. Half of the people encounter back pain in a year and nearly three-fourths of the population account for LBP in their lifetimes. It is one of the most disabling factors often preventing sports person for participation in sporting activities. In United States, the workers compensation claims account for about one fourth of all claims and one third of total compensation costs. It results in about 40% of absences from work. In total spinal pain cases low back pain accounts for 60-70%.Chronic Low back pain is the pain that persists longer than the expected time period for healing, with a duration of more than three months. The natural course of most low back pain is of self-limiting in nature, with vast majority of individuals improving within six weeks or less. Study design: Experimental study Methods: 51 subjects were selected through convenient sampling. All the subjects who were diagnosed with chronic low back pain from Orthopaedics OPD was referred to physiotherapy department and was screened and assessed according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The eligible subjects were approached with proposal of the study. Aim and procedure of the study was explained to the subject and a written informed consent was taken from them in their preferred language. At first the demographic data (age, sex, duration) was collected forever subject. Then the baseline data (pre intervention) of CLP intensity, functional disability was taken before commencement of the study. Then the subjects were randomly allocated each 17 subjects. A final data of pain intensity, functional disability was recorded. Results: For all the outcome measures, no significant difference results were found for all three techniques. Whereas, Mc Kenzie techniques is the most effective and the least effective is Maitland Mobilisation. Mean Improvement calculated as Pre- post values of VAS and RMQ scores at follow-up on 7th and 14th day was compared between the 3 techniques. Its significance was tested by testing whether the 95% CI of the mean improvement included 0 or not. Mckenzie techniques howed maximum improvement 4.68 (2.29, 7.07) on Day 7th and Maitland mobilisation the least improvement, 1.56(0.95, 2.93). Improvement by all techniques was significant at 95% CI using paired t test. However, on day 14th McKenzie showed maximum improvement 5.56(2.72, 7.07)) Maitland mobilization remaining the least effective. Conclusion: LBP is a common condition and all age groups are facing it. Pain can be due to various causes and the line of treatment depends upon the cause of pain. In this review, we found out that LBP is a condition everyone is facing. Mc Kenzie is a better treatment approach over other two techniques to reduce chronic LBP. Pain and disability were the points considered while concluding. LBP affects the quality of life and to maintain or improve the quality of life strengthening the muscles plays an important role. This review gives a brief about the treatment methods available for treating CLBP clinically. Hence physiotherapy treating subjects with chronic low back pain may choose any one technique but Mc Kenzie Technique is the most effective technique for pain and for functional disability in CLBPis the most effective. However sufficient experience and expertise is necessary. Key words: Chronic Low Back Pain, Mc Kenzie, Maitland Mobilisation, Myofascial Release, VAS, RMQ

Current trends in the medical treatment of neuropathic low back pain: a Swedish registry-based study of 1.7 million people

BackgroundLow back pain, a common problem worldwide, causes more global disability than any other condition and is associated with high costs to society. This observational registry-based study describes the current trends in the medical treatment of neuropathic low back pain in the Swedish region of Västra Götaland, which has a population of 1.7 million. The study aims to; (1) identify the prevalence of neuropathic low back pain within the study population; (2) to explore the patterns of medical treatment utilization, including the prevalence and distribution of opioids (OG) and analgesics specified for neuropathic low back pain (NG) and (3) to evaluate the long-term trends and changes in medical treatment practice for neuropathic low back pain over the study period.MethodsThis study includes a descriptive analysis of aggregated data extracted from the Swedish primary care registry VEGA and the pharmaceutical prescription registry Digitalis between the years 2017 and 2021. The data were stratified by year, age, gender, pharmaceutical code (ATC), and sub-diagnoses and presented as the prevalence of unique patients retrieving prescribed medication within six months before or after a registered diagnosis of neuropathic low back pain. The pharmaceutical codes were furthermore grouped into two groups depending on their mechanism of action; opioid group (OG) and neuropathic group (NG).ResultsIn all four diagnosis groups, more patients used opioid analgesics than neuropathic analgesics. The greatest difference between the opioid group and neuropathic group was in the lumbar spinal stenosis diagnosis group (67.1% vs. 40.6%), followed by the lumbar root canal stenosis diagnosis (65.9% vs. 44.2%), the nerve root and plexus compressions in intervertebral disc disorders diagnosis (57.5% vs. 40.8%), and lumbago with sciatica diagnosis (38.4% vs. 22.7%).ConclusionsThe trends suggest a general increase in the prescription rate and therefore patients’ use of neuropathic analgesics for neuropathic pain associated with the studied diagnoses. However, opioid treatment remains the most common. The results indicate that the treatment for neuropathic low back pain needs to be improved.

Occupational low back pain among Japanese caregivers: A large-scale cross-sectional study.

Caregivers in Japan experience a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP), with age, sex, individual pain experiences, and central sensitization symptoms potentially influencing its chronic progression. To determine the prevalence of LBP among caregivers, as well as its relation to age and sex, and explore work status, psychological factors, and central sensitization symptoms as contributing factors to chronic LBP (CLBP). A large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1214 caregivers in 35 geriatric healthcare facilities. The survey assessed LBP and CLBP prevalence, work status, psychological factors, and central sensitization-related symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing CLBP. Among 936 valid respondents, the LBP prevalence was 69.2%. No significant sex differences were found in the prevalence of LBP and CLBP. Old age, higher pain severity, and severe symptoms related to central sensitization increased the risk of CLBP. However, work status and psychological factors did not significantly contribute to CLBP. There is a high prevalence of LBP among caregivers, age and individual pain experience significantly impact CLBP. These findings emphasize the need for therapeutic strategies to manage pain intensity, especially in the acute phase, to prevent the progression to chronicity.

Estimating disease burden using national linked electronic health records: a study using an English population-based cohort.

Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to be used to produce detailed disease burden estimates. In this study we created disease estimates using national EHR for three high burden conditions, compared estimates between linked and unlinked datasets and produced stratified estimates by age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic deprivation and geographical region. EHRs containing primary care (Clinical Practice Research Datalink), secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics) and mortality records (Office for National Statistics) were used. We used existing disease phenotyping algorithms to identify cases of cancer (breast, lung, colorectal and prostate), type 1 and 2 diabetes, and lower back pain. We calculated age-standardised incidence of first cancer, point prevalence for diabetes, and primary care consultation prevalence for low back pain. 7.2 million people contributing 45.3 million person-years of active follow-up between 2000-2014 were included. CPRD-HES combined and CPRD-HES-ONS combined lung and bowel cancer incidence estimates by sex were similar to cancer registry estimates. Linked CPRD-HES estimates for combined Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes were consistently higher than those of CPRD alone, with the difference steadily increasing over time from 0.26% (2.99% for CPRD-HES vs. 2.73 for CPRD) in 2002 to 0.58% (6.17% vs. 5.59) in 2013. Low back pain prevalence was highest in the most deprived quintile and when compared to the least deprived quintile the difference in prevalence increased over time between 2000 and 2013, with the largest difference of 27% (558.70 per 10,000 people vs 438.20) in 2013. We use national EHRs to produce estimates of burden of disease to produce detailed estimates by deprivation, ethnicity and geographical region. National EHRs have the potential to improve disease burden estimates at a local and global level and may serve as more automated, timely and precise inputs for policy making and global burden of disease estimation.

Prevalence of low back pain and associated factors among bank workers at Hawassa city, Northern Zone, Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundLower back pain (LBP) is a public health threat that affects people who frequently experience sedentary working conditions. Few studies reported on low back pain among bank workers in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of low back pain among bank workers in Hawassa City, Sidama Region, Ethiopia.MethodsThis institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 20, 2023, to June 30, 2023. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select participants, and data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire, entered into Epidata version 4.6, and transferred to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent predictors of lower back pain.ResultsOf the 627 total study participants, six hundred seven bank workers participated in the study, with a response rate of 96.8%. The overall magnitude of lower back pain among the study population was 55.2%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI 51.1–59). Based on the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, being in a manager position (AOR = 3.85; 95% CI = (1.2,12), a level 2 banker (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI = (1.9,8.9), age 30–39 years (AOR = 4; 95% CI = (2,12.4), an age ≥ 40 years (AOR = 5.4; 95% CI= (3.04,16.3), working in sufficient space (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI = (0.3,0.9), and physical activity (AOR = 0.2; 95% CI = (0.1,0.8)) were significantly associated with low back pain.ConclusionThe prevalence of low back pain among the bank workers was high in the study area. Being in a managerial position, being a level two banker, being aged 30–39 years, being aged ≥ 40 years, working in sufficient space, and engaging in physical activity were significantly associated. Therefore, it is essential to establish a health screening team, create awareness programs for the benefit of physical activity, provide sufficient working space, and give special attention to elderly and senior bankers and bank managers to reduce the risk of developing low back pain.

To evaluate the effect of Marma Chikitsa in the management of Gridhrasi (Sciatica)

The uniqueness of Ayurveda is been scrutinized, analysed and then researched by its followers from the ancient time up to till date but it’s an endless procedure. Acc. to Ayurveda the whole human body is explained by itself but as it’s a modern era so we have to correlate each and every Ayurvedic concept with the modern science this study has been taken to correlate Ayurveda has classified the vital points in the body into 107 and named them Marma according to Acharya Sushruta Marma is constituted by confluence of Mansa (muscle), Sira (vessels), Snayu (nerves, tendons and ligaments), Asthi (bone) and Sandhi (joints). Ayurveda is an ancient health science devoted to the cure on human suffering and for the care of the health of the people. The lifetime prevalence of low back pain has been reported between 60% to 80%. By contrast, the life time prevalence of sciatica is between 2% and 4%. According to Acharya Charaka, two types of Gridhrasi have been listed Vataj and Vatakaphaja Gridhrasi is a Shula Pradhana Vata Nanatmaja Vyadhi which is characterized by the Kramat Shula in the Prushtha Bhaaga of Sphik, Kati, Uru, Jaanu Jangha and Pada Pradesha.

Prevalence and Correlates of Low Back Pain among University Students during Covid 19 Home Conf inement: A Cross sectional Study

Students have been confined to their homes to attend online classes during Covid-19 pandemic. This study aimed to estimate the effect of the Covid-19 Home Confinement on the prevalence and associated risk factors of low back pain, among university students in Malaysia. A total of 366 university students (155 males and 211 females) aged between 18 and 25 years participated in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered structured questionnaire on socio-demographic factors and associated risk factors was used. The prevalence of low back pain among university students before Movement Control Order (MCO) was 22.7%, while after MCO, the prevalence was 37.2%. The prevalence of LBP in females was 45.0% and males was 26.5%. Stepwise regression analysis showed that prolonged sitting, prolonged standing, being female, third year student and being obese significantly contributed to the occurrence of low back pain among university students during Covid-19 home confinement. The Covid-19 Home Confinement resulted in a significant increase in the prevalence of low back pain.

Comparison Between Disability, Physical Performance, and Other Biopsychosocial Factors in Full-Duty Career Firefighters Working With and Without Current Low Back Pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent and a top cause of disability-related early retirement in firefighters. Those with a lifetime history of LBP have various deficiencies that are associated with increased injury risk and absenteeism. However, the influence of working with current LBP on disability, physical performance, and other biopsychosocial factors has not been fully characterized in this population. The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric measures, exercise habits, physical fitness/performance, disability/work ability, and other biopsychosocial factors of firefighters working with and without current LBP. A cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline assessments from 419 full-duty career firefighters without documented work restrictions (age: 37.6 ± 8.8 y; 5 F, 414 M) who were enrolled in a regional wellness initiative in Southern California, USA. Current LBP status was determined by a questionnaire and confirmed by an interview. Anthropometric measures, patient-reported outcomes, and physical fitness tests were used to assess body mass index; body fat %; waist circumference; strengthening, cardiovascular, and flexibility exercise frequency; back and core muscular endurance; functional movement quality, perceived back-related disability, lift and carry ability, and firefighter task ability; sleep quality; and perceptions of fear and fatigue and catastrophic injustice experience. Scores for participants with and without current LBP were compared using analysis of variance and chi-square analysis. The point prevalence of current LBP was 19.81% (83/419). For the entire cohort, those with current LBP had significantly worse scores than those without current LBP for all assessed variables, except core muscular endurance and functional movement quality. These trends held up when analyses were stratified by age and obesity categories, and approximately half of the comparisons retained statistical significance. A significantly greater percentage of participants with current LBP were working with some level of back-related disability and/or perceived physical demand characteristics of work level below the required very heavy job demands. Nearly one-fifth of full-duty career firefighters without documented work restrictions reported having current LBP, and these individuals had deficits in several modifiable biopsychosocial factors across five health domains. These findings can help guide future research and implementation efforts in the fire service designed to improve performance, resiliency, work readiness, recovery, and quality of life, as well as to reduce impairment, disability, and absenteeism and increase presenteeism.

Prevalence of low back pain in handcrafters

Background: Low back pain is a musculoskeletal disorder caused by incorrect ergonomic conditions at work. It is located at the inferior gluteal fold and the coastal border and lasts more than 24 hours. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain complaints in handcrafters. Methods: This research used an observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria for this study were handcrafters of serati banten aged 45-55. In contrast, the exclusion criteria were injuries in the lower back region. The total number of respondents who participated in this study was 50 people. The research location was in Gianyar, Bali. Data was collected from January to October 2023. Data were collected by measuring VAS and REBA. VAS measured the severity and relief of pain, while the REBA questionnaire analyzed work posture. Results: The results of research regarding the prevalence of low back pain in handcrafters of serati banten in Gianyar Regency based on internal factors showed the majority experienced low back pain of mild intensity (60%), and external factors showed that the majority of pain incidents occurred in respondents with a working period of &gt;5 years (52%), working in a sitting position (56%) with moderate risk working postures (64%). Conclusion: The frequency of low back pain occurrences due to external factors was dominated by respondents with less than five years of working experience who worked in a sitting position with a medium-risk work posture.

Diving Into the Health Problems of Competitive Divers: A Systematic Review of Injuries and Illnesses in Pre-elite and Elite Diving Athletes.

The Olympic sport of diving involves the competitive disciplines of 3 m springboard and 10 m platform. Although it is generally accepted that lumbar spine injuries are common in diving athletes, the existing literature of health problems in diving athletes remains scarce. To identify the incidence, prevalence, and type of health problems that occur in competitive diving athletes. Medline, EMBASE, SportsDiscus, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Studies written in English investigating elite or pre-elite competitive diving (springboard, platform) injuries and/or illnesses were eligible. Two independent reviewers screened for inclusion by title, abstract, and full text in accordance with the eligibility criteria. Systematic review. Level 4. Data extraction was completed by 1 author using a structured form. A second author then independently reviewed and verified the extracted data, any discrepancies were resolved through consensus. The search identified 2554 potential articles, with 28 studies meeting eligibility criteria. The surveillance setting of most studies was restricted to competition-based events, with the reported injury incidence proportion ranging from 2.1% to 22.2%. The reported injury incidence rate ranged from 1.9 to 15.5 per 1000 athlete-exposures. Injuries to the shoulder, lower back/lumbar spine, trunk, and wrist/hand were reported most frequently. The prevalence of low back pain was reported as high as 89% (lifetime), 43.1% (period), and 37.3% (point). The illness incidence proportion ranged from 0.0% to 22.2%, with respiratory and gastrointestinal illness reported most frequently. Up to 1 in 5 diving athletes sustain an injury and/or illness during periods of competition. A reporting bias was observed, with most cohort studies limiting surveillance to short competition-based periods only. This limits the current understanding of the health problems experienced by diving athletes to competition periods only and requires expansion to whole-of-year surveillance.

Global pattern, trend, and cross-country inequality of early musculoskeletal disorders from 1990 to 2019, with projection from 2020 to 2050

This study aims to estimate the burden, trends, forecasts, and disparities of early musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among individuals ages 15 to 39 years. The global prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), projection, and inequality were estimated for early MSK diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain (LBP), neck pain (NP), gout, and other MSK diseases (OMSKDs). More adolescents and young adults were expected to develop MSK disorders by 2050. Across five age groups, the rates of prevalence, YLDs, and DALYs for RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs sharply increased from ages 15-19 to 35-39; however, these were negligible for OA before age 30 but increased notably at ages 30-34, rising at least 6-fold by 35-39. The disease burden of gout, LBP, and OA attributable to high BMI and gout attributable to kidney dysfunction increased, while the contribution of smoking to LBP and RA and occupational ergonomic factors to LBP decreased. Between 1990 and 2019, the slope index of inequality increased for six MSK disorders, and the relative concentration index increased for gout, NP, OA, and OMSKDs but decreased for LBP and RA. Multilevel interventions should be initiated to prevent disease burden related to RA, NP, LBP, gout, and OMSKDs among individuals ages 15-19 and to OA among individuals ages 30-34 to tightly control high BMI and kidney dysfunction. The Global Burden of Disease study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is funded by the Scientific Research Fund of Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences& Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital (2022QN38).

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Chronic Occupational Low Back Pain among Healthcare Professionals Working at Hospitals: Exploratory Survey Study.

Objective This study aimed to describe the methodological process for developing a questionnaire to identify the prevalence and risk factors for chronic occupational low back pain in healthcare professionals working at hospitals. Method An exploratory crossectional survey study was carried out in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, and its metropolitan region, in two stages. Initially, the authors prepared a questionnaire based on the Roland Morris disability questionnaire and sent it to a committee of low back pain specialists for validation using the Delphi technique. The second stage consisted of sending the final questionnaire to health professionals working in a hospital environment for at least 2 years and presenting chronic low back pain for at least 3 months. Results Validation occurred in two rounds of questionnaire adjustments by a panel consisting of physical therapists and physician experts in the field (orthopedists with more than 3 years of experience). Both rounds had 13 participants. The questionnaire initially consisted of 27 items, and, after validation, it had 19 items. The study included 65 subjects, with an average age of 40.91 years old and an average time working at a hospital of 40 hours per week. The total sample had 76.9% of physicians, 10.8% of physical therapists, and 12.3% of nurses or nursing technicians. Most (52.3%) subjects reported staying in uncomfortable positions affecting the lower back for 5 to 10 hours per day. Conclusion We developed and validated, using the Delphi technique, a questionnaire on the prevalence and risk factors associated with chronic occupational low back pain among healthcare professionals working at hospitals. This unprecedented tool can benefit the population studied since the questionnaires currently used to evaluate chronic low back pain are not specific for investigating the occupational cause of this condition.

Work-related musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists: a cross-sectional study in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures, Japan.

This study aimed to determine the actual working conditions and prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among physical therapists in Japan, and the risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) and upper limb pain (ULP). A cross-sectional study of physical therapists in the Kyoto and Shiga prefectures was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey contents included questions regarding personal, work-related, and musculoskeletal pain factors. Logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with LBP and ULP. Responses from 1479 participants were included in the analyses. The prevalence of LBP at the time of the survey and in the past year was 40.1% and 74.3% in females, and 37.8% and 69.9% in males, respectively. The prevalence of ULP was 34.8% and 64.2% in females, and 27.2% and 53.3% in males. The numbers of patients who performed manual therapy per day, worked using a fixed-height bed, performed manual therapy, had job dissatisfaction and stress, were over 40years old, and slept less than 6hours were associated with LBP and ULP. Assistance task was a risk factor only for LBP, and female sex a risk factor only for ULP. The prevalence of LBP and ULP among physical therapists in Japan was as high as that in nurses and care workers. Work-related factors associated with LBP and ULP were identified among physical therapists. Thus, to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, measures to reduce the physical burden from the perspective of occupational health are required.