Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors in Cross-Country Motorcyclists in Pakistan: A Cross-sectional Study

Low Back Pain & Risk Factors in Motorcyclists

Abstract

Background: Motorcycles have been one of the most essential means of conveyance worldwide. It is relatively difficult to point out the predisposing factors that cause lower back pain among cross-country motorcyclists. Factors that appear to have a significant impact on musculoskeletal problems in respect of the biological, environmental, vehicle, psychological, daily activities, and discomfort of motorcyclists particularly people who use motorcycles for recreational purposes. Objective: To find the prevalence of lower back pain in cross-country motorcyclists and the factors affecting it. Method: In this cross-sectional study, the data was collected from CRC-Club six months after approval of the synopsis.  The sample size was calculated to be 150 in which the estimated proportion was 0.53, desired precision of estimate was 0.08, and the confidence level was 0.95. The motorcyclists who drive motorbikes for more than one hour daily, aged between 18 to 60 years and those who drive on different quality roads (highways, narrow and unpaved) and experience lower back pain for more than three months were included. Patients with a history of any infection or inflammation,  recent injury, tumor, systemic or degenerative disease or disability were excluded from the study. Data collection procedure: A questionnaire was developed, and pilot testing was done to determine the reliability of the questionnaire using Cronbach's alpha. The data was collected by filling out questionnaires from CRC club bikers. Result: Out of 150 male cross-country motorcyclists, 72 had a smoking habit and 78 had not. About 10.7 percent of motorcyclists had no discomfort, 53.3 percent had mild, 32 percent had moderate discomfort, and 4 percent had severe discomfort. There was a significant association between sitting posture and lower back discomfort (p.000). Motorcyclists who had slumped postures had more severe pain than motorcyclists who had flat posture, long lordosis posture, or short lordosis posture, while there was no significant association between lower back discomfort and motorcycle type (p-value .321). Conclusion: With increased riding time, the discomfort in the lower back increased. It concluded that the worst posture between flat posture, long lordosis, and short lordosis is slump posture. When riding motorcycles, riders should avoid slumping posture.