A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ERGONOMIC ADVICES VERSUS ERGONOMIC PLUS PHYSIOTHERAPY INTERVENTION IN LOW BACK PAIN AMONG FARMERS

Background: In most countries, agriculture is recognized as one of the most hazardous industries. There is a host of injuries and illnesses in agriculture that have been consistently identified through epidemiological and community-based studies as in need for controlling due to their high reporting rates among agricultural workers. Low-back pain is a common and important clinical and public health problem. Low back problems affect the spines flexibility, stability, and strength, which can cause pain discomfort and stiffness. The prevalence of occupational low-back pain varies between industries and occupations and there is an association with heavy physical work, static work postures such as prolonged sitting, vibration and psychosocial factors such as work dissatisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of such an ergonomic and ergonomic plus physiotherapy treatment on functional and symptomatic parameters of moderately disabled farmers with chronic low back pain. Study Design: Experimental design. Methods: 30 patients (farmers) were selected randomly from the population using simple random sampling procedure (Lottery Method) and were divided into two equal groups. Both Group A &B were given ergonomic intervention for 4 weeks. And Group B was given Physiotherapy intervention for 2session/week, up to 4 weeks. Outcome measures: VAS(Visual Analogue Scale), Oswestry low back pain disability. Results: In Group-A (Ergonomic ) and Group-B (Physiotherapy plus ergonomic), all data was expressed as mean ± , SDand was statistically analysed using paired ‘t’ test and independent ‘t’ test to determine the statistical difference among the parameters at 0.5% level of significance. Statistical data of SPADI showed that, Group-B is significantly different from Group-A with p<0.05; i.e 95% of significance. Conclusion: In this study conclude that Physiotherapy plus ergonomic intervention to give greater improvement in pain, and functional performance in chronic low back pain among farmers.