Epidemiological aspects of low back pain

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem, particularly in the contemporary societies of highly developed countries. This study seeks to define the influence of basic demographic and social factors, such as gender, body mass, physical activity, and the type of work, on the occurrence of lumbosacral spine pain in the early and middle-late adulthood. The study was based on a self-reported survey, using the revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to evaluate pain symptoms, and managing everyday tasks. Physical activity was evaluated on the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. We found that patients in the early adulthood had a significantly lower level of disability. The older patients had a greater low back pain and motion, sleeping, and social life problems. Neither did gender nor the type of work, leisure time physical activity, or body mass appreciably affect the level of disability due to low back pain in both younger and older patient groups. We conclude that, all else unchanged from the epidemiological standpoint, wear and tear of the spine structure naturally progressing with age seems a major determinant of the appearance of low back pain.