Occupational Low Back Pain and Accompanying Disability in Rehabilitation Professionals in Rwanda

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent work-related musculoskeletal disorder and the principal contributor to years lived with disability worldwide.
Objective: We aimed to assess the levels of disability associated with LBP among rehabilitation professionals in Rwanda.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to gather information from 136 rehabilitation professionals who had LBP, including physiotherapists, prosthetists and orthotists, and occupational therapists working in Rwanda. A convenience sampling approach was employed to ensure the inclusion of eligible professionals who were willing to participate. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that captured demographic and occupational characteristics (age, sex, profession, and years of professional experience) and disability related to low back pain using the revised Oswestry disability questionnaire. This tool consists of ten elements and each of them is scored on a 0–5 scale, with higher scores indicating greater disability. The overall maximum score is 50.
Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 29. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics and disability scores. Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to examine associations between age, sex, profession, years of professional experience, and disability level.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.87 years (SD = 8.351); most of the participants were males (72.8%) and physiotherapists (66.2%). The largest group (41.9%) had less than seven years of experience. The mean disability score was 5.67 (SD = 4.821), with employment (32.6%), lifting (21.2%), and standing (13.0%) being the most affected domains. Over half of the participants (53.7%) reported no disability and 39.0% had mild disability. Age appeared to be independently associated with disability level, with participants above 35 years old reporting greater disability (OR=19.981, 95% CI: 1.329-217.041; p=.029).
Conclusions: Most rehabilitation professionals with LBP reported no or mild disability, and older age was associated with higher disability levels. Workplace measures that support healthy working conditions, particularly for older staff, may help reduce disability associated with low back pain.