Increased prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapy students compared to medical students.
Some studies have demonstrated that physiotherapists have a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP). The association between physiotherapy students, who are potentially exposed to the same LBP occupational risks as graduates, and LBP has never been demonstrated. The objective of the study is to evaluate the association between undergraduate physiotherapy study and LBP. The study design includes a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire-based study was carried out with physiotherapy and medical students. LBP was measured as lifetime, 1-year and point prevalence. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find the factors associated with LBP. Bivariate analyses were also performed to assess differences between LBP characteristics in the two courses. 77.9% of the students had LBP at some point in their lives, 66.8% in the last year and 14.4% of them reported they were suffering from LBP at the moment of answering the questionnaire. Physiotherapy students reported a higher prevalence of LBP when compared with the medical students in all measures. In the logistic regression model, physiotherapy students (A-OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.35-4.67; p = 0.003), and being exposed to the undergraduate study for more than four semesters (A-OR 2.55; 95% CI 1.43-4.55; p = 0.001) were independently associated with LBP. There were no differences between the courses concerning pain intensity and disability. As it was a cross-sectional study, we were not able to observe accurately if there is an increasing incidence of LBP during the course. Also, we did not intend to identify which activities in the course were associated with the development of LBP. This study clearly demonstrated an association between undergraduate physiotherapy study and LBP. The length of course exposure is also associated with LBP.
Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, Rua General Arcy da Rocha Nóbrega 401/602, Caxias do Sul-RS CEP 95040-290, Brazil. asdrubalmd@gmail.com
Asdrubal
A
Falavigna
Alisson Roberto
AR
Teles
Thaís
T
Mazzocchin
Gustavo Lisbôa
GL
de Braga
Fabrício Diniz
FD
Kleber
Felipe
F
Barreto
Juliana Tosetto
JT
Santin
Daniel
D
Barazzetti
Lucas
L
Lazzaretti
Bruna
B
Steiner
Natália Laste
NL
Beckenkamp
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult