Prevalence and risk factors associated with low back pain among physiotherapy students
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Noga Zlotnick1, Tzipora Tchiya Yurman2, Noa Ben Ami3 |
| 1 Noga Zlotnick, BA, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University 2 Tzipora Tchiya Yurman, BA, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University 3 Dr. Ben Ami, PT, Ph.D., Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University |
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Abstract Background: Low back pain (LBP) represents one of the most common disorders worldwide and has a very high cost to the public health system. |
| Objectives: To examine the prevalence of low back pain among students of physiotherapy at Ariel University and to evaluate the relationship between LBP prevalence and the risk factors that include demographic factors, physical activity factors, and stress factors. |
| Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was completed anonymously by 123 students (65% return rate) enrolled in the first through the fourth year of the Physiotherapy Studies Program at Ariel University. The research tool was a self-report questionnaire that included questions about the LBP risk factors of physical activity and stress, which were from the Jessor Research Questionnaire and found to be reliable, as well as questions regarding demographics |
| Results: Findings revealed that 58.2% of the students in the Physiotherapy Program at Ariel University experienced low back pain. A significant correlation was found in the sample between family-related stress factors and back pain (r = 0.211, P = .019), Men were more physically active than women (P = .01), and the women experienced significantly more stress related to studies (P = .009) and social life (P = .015) than did the men. |
| Conclusions: The prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapy students is similar to the prevalence in the general population. A significant correlation was found between family-related stress factors experienced by the students and complaints of back pain. |
| Keywords: low back pain, physiotherapy students, prevalence and risk factors |
