Low Back Pain and Disability: A Descriptive Study from Iran

Aim: Back pain is a common disabling chronic problem that burdens individuals, families and societies. Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) has a significant effect on functional status and limiting work activity. This study aimed to assess the status of CLBP and disability among individuals who referred to Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS). Methods and Materials: This descriptive study was performed on individuals with CLBP who referred to the teaching hospitals of ZUMS. In this study, the demographic questionnaire and the Oswestry Lumbar Disability Questionnaire were used to collect information to assess disability and change in life activities. The questionnaire of Van Korf et al. was used to measure pain intensity with Numerical Pain Rate (NPR). Finally, the data were entered into SPSS software version ۲۶ and statistical analysis was performed in frequency / percentage. Findings: Totally ۲۳۸ individuals including ۱۵۹ (۶۶.۸) women with a mean age of (۴۰.۰۶±۱۳.۲۲) and ۷۹ (۳۳.۲) men with a mean age of (۳۵.۵۶±۱۶.۱۲) participated in the study completed the questionnaires. According to the results, ۵۶.۳% (N=) of participants have disabilities and ۳۴.۵% (N=) have low disabilities.