Low Back Pain in Medical Students and Professors During the Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study

• Published in: Revista brasileira de ortopedia Vol. 58; no. 4; pp. e592 - e598
• Main Authors: Mattos, Arthur Fiorotto de, Lima, Natália Fortuny de, Wajchenberg, Marcelo, Martins, Delio Eulalio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda 01-08-2023; Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia
• Subjects: Artigo Original; low back pain; ORTHOPEDICS; pandemics; prevalence; risk factors; students; prevalence; students; risk factors; pandemics; low back pain; prevalência; dor lombar; fatores de riscos; estudantes; pandemias
• ISSN: 0102-3616; 1982-4378; 1982-4378
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1771482

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain before and during the pandemic, comparing both periods.
 A questionnaire was administered, containing questions about the presence of low back pain, sociodemographic characteristics and environmental factors that could be related to such pain.
 Among the 978 responses obtained, the prevalence of low back pain during the pandemic was 69.94%, which represented a significant increase over values from the pre-pandemic period (57.37%). A high prevalence of low back pain was found between all groups, especially among women. Some factors were associated with the incidence of low back pain, such as having previously diagnosed spinal problems and sedentary lifestyle.
 The prevalence of low back pain increased significantly during the pandemic in the studied groups.