Prevalence and Predisposing Factors of Low Back Pain Among Male Underground Miners

To determine the prevalence and predisposing factors of Low Back Pain among male underground miners.

The work of miners requires repeated lifting of heavy burdens, vibrations, bending, twisting of the spine and prolonged standing. They also carry heavy loads such as emergency oxygen devices and batteries suspended at waist height. Biomechanical lumbo-spinal strain and intense physical work are the characteristic hallmarks of mining work. The impact of altered mechanics results in pain. Aches and pains results in enormous costs to health and industry. Hence affects the economic condition of the miner.

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors of low back pain in the underground miners, which will benefit the miners to prevent low back pain and hence maintain their quality of life.

This was a cross sectional study on 100 male underground miners. The study design was survey design. A simple random sampling of every person with current full time employment in the mine for minimum one year duration with minimum two hours work for minimum five days a week at their current occupation at the time of the study were selected for the present study. The screening was done with the help of The Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain questionnaire (OMPQ), which is valid and reliable in predicting long-term disability. The data was analyzed using inferential statistics.

The prevalence of low back pain among 100 male underground miners was 67%, most of the subjects showed that the work was heavy and pain if present was worsened by physical activities such as bending and lifting.