Associations Between Type-Specific Sedentary Behaviour and Low Back Pain: Evidence From a Large-Scale Cohort Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between different types of sedentary behaviour and the risk of low back pain (LBP) and LBP intensity. Methods: Data were obtained from a large-scale cohort survey of Koreans comprising 2742 participants. Sedentary behaviours—namely, TV viewing (TV-ST), squatting (Squat-ST), and floor (Floor-ST) sitting—were categorised into three groups (< 2 h, 2–4 h, and ≥ 4 h). LBP was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and multiple linear regression analyses were used to estimate β coefficients with 95% CI. Results: For TV-ST, after adjusting for all confounding variables, participants watching TV for 2–4 h and ≥ 4 h exhibited LBP risk ORs of 1.23 (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01–1.50) and 1.44 (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.14–1.82), respectively, compared with those watching TV for less than 2 h. Similar results were observed for Squat-ST, with an OR of 1.83 (95% CI: 1.33–2.56) for 2–4 h and an OR of 4.14 (95% CI: 1.96–8.72) for ≥ 4 h. Furthermore, distinct associations were observed between sedentary behaviour types and LBP severity as measured by VAS and ODI scores. Conclusion: These findings highlight the critical role of specific sedentary behaviours in the development and severity of LBP, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in its prevention and management.