ABSTRACT
Background: Low back pain [LBP] is a nonspecific condition of acute or chronic pain in or near the lumbosacral spines. It can be caused by inflammatory, degenerative, neoplastic, gynecologic, traumatic, metabolic, or other disorders. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain. To show also its symptoms and treatment trials among general population of Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was carried out on population of Arar city, Northern Saudi Arabia, during the period from 1 January to 30 July 2017. Systematic random sampling technique was followed. Data was collected by personal interview, using pre designed questionnaire which include questions designed to fulfill the study objectives
Results: Among 501 studied individual. The prevalence of low back pain was 23.8%, 57% of them were females [P=0.02] and 30% had family history of low back pain. However 91% of cases doesn't need vigorous effort in their work. Of the cases 90% doesn't seek medical care for treatment. Disk problems were found in 6.7% of cases, soft tissue problems in 9.3% and in 84% of cases the cause was not diagnosed. About quarter [25.2%] get medical treatment but only 16.8% improved. While 19.3% get physiotherapy and most of them [18.2%] improved. No ases get surgical treatment
Conclusion and Recommendations: There was a high prevalence of LBP among Arar population [23.8%]. Many risk factors were identified that would necessitate multidisciplinary involvement. Disk problemswere found in 6.7% of cases, soft tissue problems in 9.3% and in 80% of cases the cause was not diagnosed. We recommend that educational programs on prevention and coping strategies for musculoskeletal disorders are mandatory to reduce the rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders