Prevalence of low back pain among physical therapists in Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the life and point prevalence rates and study the characteristics of work-related and non-work-related low back pain (LBP) among physical therapists in Kuwait and its effect on their regular activities.


METHODS
A specially designed self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 143 physical therapists in Kuwait. The questionnaire included demographic data, history and characteristics of LBP before and after working as a physical therapist, the effect of LBP on regular activities and current LBP. A visual analogue scale was used to score the intensity of the pain.


RESULTS
One hundred (70%) of the 143 physical therapists completed the questionnaire; mean age and standard deviation of the respondents were 35.9 +/- 8.45 years. The lifetime prevalence of work-related LBP was 70% (61.8% in males and 74.2% in females) and the point (current) prevalence rate was 57% (31.6% in males and 68.4% in females). All the 100 therapists were college graduates who worked full-time and 82% were employed in general hospitals and rehabilitation centers. The most common areas of specialty were orthopedics (32%) and neurology (23%). Fifty percent reported that LBP affected their regular activities, 28.6% reported limitation due to pain and 11.4% changed their work settings because of LBP. The main site of pain was at low back and buttocks. Pain intensity was scored similarly among male and female physical therapists.


CONCLUSIONS
Work-related and point prevalence rates of LBP among physical therapists in Kuwait are high and affect their daily activities, necessitating changes in work settings.
Shehab
Dia
D
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. diaa@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Al-Jarallah
Khalid
K
Moussa
Mohamed A A
MA
Adham
Nihad
N
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D012737:Sex Factors