Investigation of the relationship between low back biomechanics and sleep quality in mothers with disabled children

This study aimed to examine the relationship between mothers of typically developing children (MOTDC) and mothers of physically disabled children (MOPDC), who are considered to be a disadvantaged group, in terms of low back biomechanics and sleep quality in both groups and to reveal possible exposures. The participants in our study were divided into two groups as MOPDC (experimental) and MOTDC (control). A total of 102 volunteer participants were included in our study, 51 of whom met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in each group. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to question pain parameters, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality, and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to question the effect of low back pain on daily life activities were applied to participants in both groups. The same muscle shortness tests and muscle strength tests were applied to compare the low back biomechanics of the participants in both groups. Within the scope of muscle shortness tests, hamstring and gastrocnemius muscles were evaluated with the Sit and Reach Test, hip flexor muscles with the Modified Thomas Test, and tensor fascia lata muscle shortness with the Modified Ober Test. Within the scope of muscle strength tests, lower and upper parts of anterior trunk flexors, oblique trunk flexors, gluteus medius and isolated gluteus maximus muscles were evaluated separately. All obtained results were compared in both groups. SPSS 22.0 Package Program was used in the analysis of the data. When the obtained findings were examined, it was determined that the VAS, PSQI and Oswestry scores of the MOPDC group were higher compared to the scores of the MOTDC group and a significant difference was found between the groups (p<0.05). When the muscle shortness test results were compared, it was determined that the participants in the MOPDC group had higher muscle shortness compared to the participants in the MOTDC group in all muscle groups examined and a significant difference was found between the groups (p<0.05). When the muscle strength test results were compared, it was determined that the muscle strength of the MOFDC group participants was lower than that of the MOTDC group participants and a significant difference was found between the groups (p<0.05). The results obtained from our study show that mothers with physically disabled children are at much higher biomechanical risk compared to mothers without physically disabled children, and that their physical exposure negatively affects their sleep quality and daily life. Preventive rehabilitation programs should be developed to minimize the exposure of mothers with physically disabled children to the lowest possible level.