Effect of back-exercise on the level of pain and disability among hospital ward nurses with subacute and chronic nonspecific low back pain

Low back pain (LBP) in nurses decreases productivity due to disability. It also affects nurses' absenteeism and increases the prevalence of clinic visits. Strengthening the muscles of the lower back may reduce the level of pain and degree of disability. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of back-exercise on the level of pain and disability in subacute and chronic nonspecific LBP on hospital ward nurses. This quasi-experimental study included 20 participants who received a back-exercise intervention. Data were obtained by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) before and after the back-exercise intervention. Other variables investigated were age, gender, body mass index, exercise habits, tendency of mental-emotional disorder, and years of working. Level of pain before the back-exercise intervention was 3.4 ± 0.8, while the level of pain after the back-exercise intervention was 0.5 (0-5.6, p < 0.001). The disability score before the back-exercise intervention was 6.8 ± 2.1, while disability score after the back-exercise intervention was 1.0 (0-6.0, p < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between the tendency of mental-emotional disorder to the change of disability score (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the level of pain and disability in subacute and chronic non specific LBP on hospital ward nurses following the back-exercise intervention. These data support the use of back-exercises for LBP.