Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain in warehouse workers: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal disorder that leads to functional incapacity and absence from work. OBJECTIVE: To analyze warehouse workers' prevalence and factors associated with low back pain. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design with 204 male warehouse workers (stocker, separator, checker, and packer) from motor parts companies. Age, body mass, marital status, education, the practice of physical exercise, presence of pain, low back pain intensity, comorbidities, time away from work, handgrip strength, flexibility, and trunk muscle strength were collected and analyzed. Data are presented as mean, standard deviation, absolute and relative frequency. A binary logistic regression was performed, with low back pain (yes or no) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: 24.0% of the workers reported low back pain with an average intensity of 4.7 (+/- 2.4) points. The participants were young, had completed high school education, were single and married, and had normal body weight. There was a more likely low back pain presence in separator tasks. Greater handgrip strength in the dominant (right) hand and trunk muscle is associated with no low back pain. CONCLUSION: Low back pain prevalence was 24% among young warehouse workers, more likely in separation tasks. A greater handgrip and trunk strength can be a protective factor to no low back pain.