Examination of risk factors associated with nonspecific low back pain in young adults

Aim: Young adults are increasingly spending more time in sedentary leisure activities and using high-tech devices such as computers and cell phones for extended periods, as well as tending to sit for extended periods in classroom settings. Early recognition of a sedentary lifestyle and its negative effects may prevent the first episode of low back pain and reduce the economic burden of this chronic disease. The exact cause of nonspecific low back pain remains unclear and presents a complex management challenge. The purpose of this study was to examine potential risk factors associated with changes in the daily routines of low back pain or physical assessment in a group of individuals with chronic low back pain and a control group without such complaints. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 174 male and female university students studying at the Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, with a mean age of 21.67 years and ages ranging from 18 to 29. Those with and without nonspecific low back pain were divided into two groups. Clinical demographics, visual analog pain scale, trigger point count, HAD scale, and 20 physical characteristics were measured, and the relative relationship of each characteristic to low back pain was assessed. Results: The pain group was found to have higher cigarette consumption (p=0.029) and medication intake (p=0.007) than the other group. The pain group was at higher risk for anxiety (p=0.008) and had more trigger point activity (p=0.000). Some physical assessments revealed that those with low back pain had weaker muscle strength than those without: abdominal (p=0.001) and back extensor (p=0.0002), upper (p=0.001) and lower abdominal (p=0.0001) muscles, hip flexor (p=0.001) and left extensor muscles (p=0.0025), quadriceps femoris muscle (right side, left side\ p=0.004, p=0.007) and left hemistring (p=0.025). Additionally, the active normal range of motion of the lumbar flexor (p=0.0.42) and extensor (p=0.039), knee flexor (p=0.000) and hip extensor (p=0.000) joints in the painful group were found to be less than in the painless group. Conclusion: The pain-free group had higher muscle strength than the pain-free group. Furthermore, the pain-free group also had higher ANEH values. The pain-free group had better muscle endurance compared to the pain-free group. The pain group had higher cigarette consumption compared to the pain-free group. While there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of depression, the pain group was found to be at greater risk for anxiety. Trigger point activity was also found to be higher in the pain-free group than in the pain-free group.