Prevalence of low back pain among caregivers of stroke survivors and its impact on their activities of daily living

Abstract

Abstract Background: Stroke is a major cause of disability which may make dependent on others. The caregiver is primarily involved in helping the stroke survivors to live independently. Care givers may face many musculoskeletal complaints and low back pain is most common all of them. Low back pain is the leading cause of activity limitation and work absence throughout much of the world. Low back pain is one of the most common global health problems which create a large personal, community and financial burden. Additionally, caregivers have high prevalence rates of low back pain (LBP) to take care the patients. This study was focused to identify the prevalence of low back pain among caregiver of stroke survivors and its impact on their activities of daily living. Aim: To identify the prevalence of low back pain among caregiver of stroke survivors and its impact on their activities of daily living. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to find out the prevalence of low back pain of the last 12 months among caregivers of stroke survivors, to find out the association between low back pain of the last 12 months and demographic variables and to find out the levels of physical disability due to low back pain of caregivers to manage their activities of daily living. Methodology: Cross sectional design was selected to conduct this research. In this study, one question was used to find out the prevalence of low back pain of the last 12 months among caregivers of stroke survivors, some demographic variables had been chosen to show association with LBP of the last 12 months and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) version 2.1a was used to determine the levels of physical disability of the female caregivers to manage in everyday life due to LBP. Study sample was selected in comprehensive way. Result and discussion: In this study, the prevalence of LBP was very high among caregivers especially more common in female caregivers. Married caregivers are more vulnerable rather than unmarried. Most of the female caregivers had moderate disability; one third of them had severe disability and least them experiencing minimal disability due to LBP. Conclusion: Low Back Pain is one of the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders in daily practice and also very frequent problem in Bangladesh.LBP is more numerous in caregivers of stroke survivors than in the normal population. Care givers are the part and parcel of intervention program. They need to care for their own health through Occupational Health and Safety and Ergonomics concerns from occupational therapists regarding caring for their patients and managing their everyday life. Thus, the stroke survivors as well as the caregivers may get their fruitful intervention.