Body composition parameters as predictors of low back pain in rural homemakers of North India

Mili Sengar; Abhishek Gupta; Swati Singh; Nandini Mishra

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_920_23

Body composition parameters as predictors of low back pain in rural homemakers of North India

J Family Med Prim Care. 2024 Feb;13(2):512-516. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_920_23. Epub 2024 Mar 6.

Authors

Mili Sengar¹, Abhishek Gupta², Swati Singh¹, Nandini Mishra³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, TS Mishra Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
² Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
³ Department of Microbiology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Abstract

Background: Homemakers are the backbones of families, but in rural India, females suffer from many musculoskeletal problems due to excessive workload in their houses. The objective of the present study is to compare body composition parameters as predictors of low back pain (LBP) in nonworking rural homemakers of North India.

Materials and methods: The study was conducted among 296 homemakers from rural areas of Lucknow district in Uttar Pradesh. Details of LBP and body composition parameters (body mass index, body fat, visceral fat) were taken.

Results: The prevalence of LBP among homemakers was found to be 15.54%. BMI was found to be a better predictor of LBP than body fat and visceral fat. The risk of LBP is 7.24 times higher in BMI ≥23 than in women with BMI <23. The risk of LBP is 3.67 times more in visceral fat % ≥10% than in women with visceral fat % <10%.

Conclusion: Age, type of family, socioeconomic status income was identified as risk factors in this population. Maintaining an adequate BMI is essential for the prevention of LBP.

Keywords: BMI; Back; homemakers; pain; parameters; predictor.