Relationship between BMI, regular physical activity and musculoskeletal back pain indication in college students

The low level of regular physical activity in young people, mainly university students, became a problem of public health (Matsudo et al., 2002; Ruiz et al., 2005) associated with participation in any type of physical activity decreases significantly with increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) (Camoes & Lopes, 2007) may cause back pain. Objective: This paper aims to study the relationship of the back pain level (according to Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]) and the practice of regular physical activity and Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: University students (720), related with healthcare domain (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, dietary therapy and, sport and wellness), aged between 17 and 30 years (20,27 +/- 2,31), participated in this study. Results: Back pain complaints was presented for 76.9% of the inquired students (554), VAS mean values of maximum pain were 3.42 +/- 2.426, the highest average of pain complaint was localized in the lumbar region (4.58 +/- 1.753); participants who presented the highest average of pain complaint (4.29 +/- 2.495) belong to the speech therapy course, followed by physiotherapy (3.68 +/- 2.261), occupational therapy (3.63 +/- 2.419), dietary therapy (3.29 +/- 2.453) and nursing (3.17 +/- 1.981). Conversely, the lowest average pain was in the sports and wellness course, 2: 45 +/- 2.680. Concerning weekly physical practice average, the sports and wellness course presented more than the double of the average of the remaining courses (4.79 +/- 3.24 and 1.97 +/- 3.02 respectively), in relation of BMI, the overweight had a higher average pain (3,89 +/- 2.426) compared to those with normal weight or underweight (3,35 +/- 2,451 and 3,33 +/-` 2,092, respectively). Conclusion: These results showed significant negative correlation (according to Spearman's test, p = 0.000) between physical activity practice, BMI (according to Spearman's test, p = 0.019) and back pain complaints.