Relationship between Low Back Pain and Selected Anthropometric Parameters

This study was done to evaluate the relationship between low back pain (LBP) duration and selected anthropometric parameters. A total of 990 Participants, comprising 685 male and 305 female subjects were recruited by convenient purposive sampling method after detailed explanation of research procedure and informed consent. The following parameters were measured; height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. Results were presented in descriptive statistics for measured anthropometric parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square (X2) tests were done to determine the relationship between low back pain and the anthropometric variables. There was significant association between occupation, age and duration of LBP, in particular, for periods between 3 and 12 months. In addition, the variables; occupation, body mass index (BMI) and age (in categories), showed significant association with LBP, while for waist hip ratio (WHR) statistically significant difference was observed for 3, 6 and 9 months. The differences between sex and duration of LBP were not statistically significant. These findings will be useful to orthopedic and trauma surgeons as well as Occupational health physicians in the management of low back pain.

Key Words: Low Back Pain, occupation, age, WHR, BMI