Prevalence of Work Related Low Back Pain among Physical Therapists with Different Foot Postures at Fayoum, Egypt: A Survey Study

Abstract
Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is the commonest form of musculoskeletal disorder among physical therapists. Repetitive tasks, high force manual techniques bending/twisting postures, patient transfer assisting with mat activities, lifting heavy equipment, prolonged constrained posture and foot abnormalties identified as risk factors of low back pain which is common in the field of physical therapy.
Aim of the Study: The purpose of this study was to identify prevalence of work related LBP among physical therapists with different foot postures working in governmental hospitals in fayoum-Egypt.
Subjects and Methods: 147 physical therapists who are working in the governmental hospitals in Fayoum-Egypt, the LBP will be measured by Nordic Questionnaires (NQ) and foot postures measured by Foot Posture Index (FPI).
Results: 112 of the 147P. Ts (76.19%) have completed the questionnaire. WRLBP (n=68), non WRLBP (n=25), no LBP (n=19). The lifetime prevalence of WRLBP was 60.71%, the twelve-month prevalence of WRLBP was 52.67%, the point prevalence of WRLBP was 47.32%, concerning BMI and WRLBP 74.28% of subjects with BMI of 20-24.9kg/m2 and 54.54% of subjects with BMI of 25-29.9kg/m2, the WRLBP was present in 54.83% of female subjects and in 68% of male subjects, the WRLBP was present in 56% of subjects with normal foot posture, 55% of subjects with pronated foot posture, 91% of subjects with highly pronated foot posture, 100% of subjects with supinated foot posture and 67% of subjects with highly supinated foot posture.
Conclusion: There was no statistically significant associ-ation between LBP and foot postures, however there was a statistically significant association between WRLBP and BMI. There was a high prevalence of WRLBP among physical therapists who working in governmental hospitals in Fayoum-Egypt.