BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is frequent in the economically active population and may be associated to some occupational activities where the worker remains in the sitting position in anti-ergonomic conditions for a long time. This study aimed at investigating the possible relationship between low back pain and labor activities performed in the sitting position. METHOD: Transversal analytical study carried out in a university of Recife, including 239 employees of administrative technical areas. Data were collected with regard to socio-demographic and anthropometrical features; pain was evaluated by the self-perceived pain scale; lumbar pain perception and difficulty to perform labor and daily life activities were evaluated by Oswestry and Roland-Morris functional evaluation questionnaires. Then, the Polestar Education's® Screening physical test was applied to evaluate the strength level of body stabilizing muscles and spinal movement amplitude. RESULTS: Data suggest a significant correlation between labor activities in the sitting position and low back pain. The prevalence of chronic low back pain was 95.2%, being higher in employees above 40 years of age, sedentary and working for the institution for a longer period. Gender, body mass index and pauses during working hours were not risk factors for the appearance of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a possible association between low back pain and labor activities in the sitting position and call the attention to the need of care with spinal health in the workplace.
Low back pain; Posture; Spine
