PREVALENCE AND FUNCTIONAL IMPACT OF LOW BACK PAIN AMONG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS: CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Keywords:
Disability, Ergonomics, Low Back Pain, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, Prevalence, WorkloadAbstract
Background:
Low back pain is a leading occupational health problem and a major cause of functional limitation among industrial workers. Physically demanding tasks, prolonged working hours, and poor ergonomic conditions place industrial workers at increased risk, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the high occupational burden, limited regional data are available on the functional impact of low back pain within industrial settings in Pakistan.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of low back pain and evaluate its functional impact among industrial workers in Faisalabad, Punjab.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 industrial workers recruited from textile, power loom, and dyeing units in Faisalabad between January and September 2023. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale for pain intensity, and the Oswestry Disability Index for functional disability. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate prevalence and disability levels. Inferential analyses, including independent sample t-tests and correlation analysis, were performed assuming normal data distribution, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The prevalence of low back pain was 62.6%. Among affected workers, the mean pain intensity score was 5.8 ± 1.9, and the mean Oswestry Disability Index score was 28.6 ± 11.4%. Functional disability was categorized as minimal in 34.2% of workers, moderate in 46.8%, and severe in 19.0%. Pain intensity showed a strong positive correlation with functional disability (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). Higher disability scores were observed among workers involved in manual material handling and those with longer employment duration.
Conclusion:
Low back pain was highly prevalent among industrial workers in Faisalabad and was associated with considerable functional impairment. The findings highlight the need for targeted occupational physiotherapy interventions and ergonomic improvements to reduce disability and enhance work-related function.
Keywords:
Disability, Ergonomics, Low Back Pain, Occupational Health, Physiotherapy, Prevalence, Workload
