Incidence and Contributing Factors of Low Back Pain Among Nursing Professionals

Authors

  • Subayyal Iftikar Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Azka Amjad Nawaz Sharif Social Security Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Nayab Shahid Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Ashir Rehman Malik Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Laraib Ahmed Riphah International Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v6i2.1931

Keywords:

Low back pain; nurses; prevalence; occupational risk factors; ergonomics; body mass index.

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational health problem among nurses and may reduce productivity and functional capacity in hospital settings. Objective: To determine the prevalence of LBP among female nursing professionals and evaluate associations between LBP severity and selected occupational and individual risk factors. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in Lahore hospitals using purposive sampling. Female nurses (n=130) completed a modified Nordic low back pain questionnaire and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Occupational exposures included bending/twisting movements, lifting activities, and patient transfers; individual factors included exercise status and body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, with chi-square tests for associations. Results: Ever-LBP prevalence was 63.8% (83/130) and 12-month prevalence was 53.8% (70/130). Among nurses reporting ever-LBP, 6.0% reported daily pain and 24.1% reported pain for >30 days but not daily during the past 12 months. Reduced work activity and reduced leisure activity were reported by 51.8% and 49.4% of symptomatic nurses, respectively. Severity was significantly associated with bending/twisting (p<0.05), lack of regular exercise (p=0.008), lifting activities (p=0.009), patient transfers (p=0.01), and BMI (p=0.001), while shift time, standing time, and sleep duration were not significant. Conclusion: LBP was highly prevalent among nurses and was linked to modifiable ergonomic exposures and BMI.

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Published

2026-02-28

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Subayyal Iftikar, Azka Amjad, Nayab Shahid, Muhammad Ashir Rehman Malik, & Laraib Ahmed. (2026). Incidence and Contributing Factors of Low Back Pain Among Nursing Professionals. Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Research, 6(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v6i2.1931

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Volume 6, Issue 2 (February 2026)

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