Background: Low back pain is common in travelers and travelling is one of the contributing factor for low back pain, the risk factors related with travelling are also observed in low back pain.
Purpose of study: The purpose of this study was to find out the frequency of risk factors which cause low back pain in daily travelling younger population.
Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted from 10 November 2012 to 10 April 2013. A sample of 315 students was recruited through non probability purposive sampling technique from different universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The details were recorded through a semi-structured questionnaire. The descriptive analysis of data was done through SPSS 17.
Result: The result showed that 68.9 % were females and 31.1 % were males. Majority of subjects who reported low back pain were travelling in sitting position 85.1%. 14.9 % subjects were travelling in standing position. Low back pain was more common in those subjects who traveled by bus 48.6%, 28.6 % through van, 6.8% on motor bike and 1 % on other type of vehicles (rickshaw or bicycle). 4.8% subjects felt pain at the start of the day, 31.1% subjects perceived pain during travelling, and 38.1% subjects felt pain at the end of the day and 26.0% subjects perceived pain after travelling.
Conclusion and Recommendations: It is concluded that, majority of students were females. It was also noted that majority students traveled in sitting position. Majority of students traveled on bus and most of the students felt pain at the end of day. It is recommended that awareness about the good posture during travelling should be created in university students.
Key words: Low back pain, Travelling, Sitting position
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