Low back pain (LBP) is a common public health problem resulting in workforce loss.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to evaluate the LBP status and its affecting factors among drivers in a city in southeast Turkey.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was conducted among 323 drivers. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS:
The mean age of the drivers was 41.7±11.5 years (min: 19, max: 70), and 83.9% were married, and all were men. LBP was found in 59.4% of drivers. It was significantly higher in drivers with poor socioeconomic status, dissatisfied with their life, having a chronic illness, physically inactive, having sleep disorders, exposed to bad road conditions, prolonged vibration, high physical- psychological workload, and a family history of LBP (p < 0.05). There was no significant association between age, education level, and BMI with LBP (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
There is limited study on this subject in Turkey. Further studies can raise awareness about this issue and create an educational plan.
KrismerM, Van TulderM. Strategies for prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions. Low back pain (non-specific). Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007;21(1):77–91.
2.
EsenE, ToprakD. Evaluation of the prevalence and associated factors of low back pain. Ankara Medical Journal. 2018;18(4):460–9.
3.
JacksonT, ThomasS, StabileV, ShotwellM, HanX, McQueenK. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the global burden of chronic pain without clear etiology in low- and middle-income countries: Trends in heterogeneous data and a proposal for new assessment methods. Anesth Analg. 2016;123(3):739–48.
4.
JosephL. et al.., Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among professional drivers: A systematic review. Journal of Occupational Health. 2020;62(1):e12150.
YavuzY. Evaluation of pain, posture, sleeep quality, fatigue, stress and quality of life in truck drivers [Master Thesis]. Istanbul: Bezmialem Foundation University, 2019.
7.
Alperovitch-NajensonD, SantoY, MasharawiY, Katz-LeurerM, UshvaevD, KalichmanL. Low back pain among professional bus drivers: Ergonomic and occupational-psychosocial risk factors. Isr Med Assoc J. 2010;12(1):26–31.
8.
CavanaughJM, OzaktayAC, YamashitaT, AvramovA, GetchellTV, KingAI. Mechanisms of low back pain: A neurophysiologic and neuroanatomic study. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1997;335:166–80.
9.
Awang LukmanK, JeffreeMS, RampalKG. Lower back pain and its association with whole-body vibration and manual materials handling among commercial drivers in Sabah. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2019;25(1):8–16.
10.
ApostolopoulosY, SonmezS, ShattellMM, GonzalesC, FehrenbacherC. Health survey of U.S. long-haul truck drivers: Work environment, physical health, and healthcare access. Work. 2013;46(1):113–23.
11.
DemirciogluA, BasSS, Atasavun UysalS. Comparison of pain, fatigue, sleep and quality of life in drivers using different type vehicles. JETR. 2019;6(2):104–11.
12.
KresalF, RoblekV, JermanA, MeškoM. Lower back pain and absenteeism among professional public transport drivers. JOSE. 2015;21(2):166–72.
YitayalMM, AyhualemS, FisehaB, KahasayG, GashawM, GebreH. Occupational lower back pain and associated factors among taxi drivers in Mekelle city, north Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(4):2046–51.
15.
WangM, YuJ, LiuN, LiuZ, WeiX, YanF, et al. Low back pain among taxi drivers: A cross-sectional study. Occup Med (Lond). 2017;67(4):290–5.
16.
KurtulS, GungorduN. Low back pain and risk factors among taxi drivers in Turkey: A cross-sectional study. Med Lav. 2022;113(3):e2022025.
MurrayKE, BuulA, AdenR, CavanaughAM, KidaneL, HusseinM, et al. Occupational health risks and intervention strategies for US taxi drivers. Health Promot Int. 2019;34(2):323–32.
21.
KasemsanA, JosephL, PaungmaliA, SitilertpisanP, PirunsanU. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated disability among professional bus drivers: A cross-sectional study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021;94(6):1263–70.
22.
AtallahAA, AlthuwaybiSE, FaydhJA, AlsherbiRK, AlsufyaniME, AljuaidHM. Prevalence of lower back pain and its relationship with driving postures among drivers in Taif, Saudi Arabia. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2022;14(Suppl 1):433–8.
23.
YosefT, BelachewA, TeferaY. Magnitude and contributing factors of low back pain among long distance truck drivers at Modjo Dry Port, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Environmental and Public Health. 2019)6793090.
24.
KawiJ. Women with chronic low back pain and low socio-economic status: Self-efficacy and multi-site pain predictors. Pain Management Nursing. 2021;22(2):239–40.
25.
KarranEL, GrantAR, MoseleyGL. Low back pain and the social determinants of health: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. Pain. 2020;161(11):2476–93.
26.
PortelaLH, ZanninPHT. Whole-body vibration in bus drivers: Association with physical fitness and low back pain. IJIER. 2021;9, 44–56.
27.
ZhangQ, DongH, ZhuC, LiuG. Low back pain in emergency ambulance workers in tertiary hospitals in China and its risk factors among ambulance nurses: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019;9(9):e029264.
28.
PaulisWD, SilvaS, KoesBW, van MiddelkoopM. Overweight and obesity are associated with musculoskeletal complaints as early as childhood: A systematic review. Obes Rev. 2014;15(1):52–67.
29.
MiyamotoM, KonnoS, GembunY, LiuX, MinamiK, ItoH. Epidemiological study of low back pain and occupational risk factors among taxi drivers. Ind Health. 2008;46(2):112–7.
30.
NabiMH, HawladerMDH, NazF, SiddiqueaSR, HasanM, HossianM, DalalK. Low back pain among professional bus drivers: a cross-sectional study from Bangladesh. BMC Public Health. 2023;23:1172.
31.
ElmasryS, AsfourS, de Rivero VaccariJP, TravascioF. Effects of tobacco smoking on the degeneration of the intervertebral disc: A finite element study. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0136137.
Rafa’iAA, Sa’iduIA, AhmadRY, ElmiOS, AliyuSU, JajereAM, DigilAA. Prevalence and risk factors for low back pain among professional drivers in Kano, Nigeria. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2015;70(5):251–5.
34.
JadhavAV. Comparative cross-sectional study for understanding the burden of low back pain among public bus transport drivers. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2016;20(1):26–30.
35.
BovenziM. A longitudinal study of low back pain and daily vibration exposure in professional drivers. Ind Health. 2010;48(5):584–95.
36.
CoenenP, KingmaI, BootCR, BongersPM, Van DieënJH. Cumulative mechanical low-back load at work is a determinant of low-back pain. Occup Environ Med. 2014;71(5):332–7.
37.
SterudT, TynesT. Work-related psychosocial and mechanical risk factors for low back pain: A 3-year follow-up study of the general working population in Norway. Occup Environ Med. 2013;70(5):296–302.
38.
TinitaliS, BowlesKA, KeatingJL, HainesT. Sitting posture during occupational driving causes low back pain; evidence-based position or dogma? A systematic review. HFES. 2021;63(1):111–123.
39.
LisAM, BlackKM, KornH, NordinM. Association between sitting and occupational LBP. Eur Spine J. 2007;16(2):283–98.
40.
AdarT, Kilic DeliceE. Comparison of the total workload of local public transportation drivers with a new approach according to physical and mental workload criteria. Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences. 2020;26(1):254–67.
41.
OkunribidoOO, ShimblesSJ, MagnussonM, PopeM. City bus driving and low back pain: a study of the exposures to posture demands, manual materials handling and whole-body vibration. Appl Ergon. 2007;38(1):29–38.
