Prevalence of Disability Due to Low Back Pain in MSRTC Bus Drivers of Pune, India

Background- Back pain is a highly prevalent disabling musculoskeletal condition which affects almost everyone at some point in their life. With the changing lifestyle, incidence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) is increasing. Since, bus drivers are constantly exposed to many stressors including long hours of travelling, prevalence of Low Back Pain is very common in this occupation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Disability due to low back pain in MSRTC bus drivers. Methods - 180 bus drivers were approached of which 164 gave consent to participate, further 153 drivers sufficing inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results - According to the Modified Oswestry Low back pain Disability Index, out of 153 samples 70% population suffered from Moderate disability secondary to low back pain followed by 25% population suffering from severe disability and only 5% suffering from minimal disability due to various work-related factors. Conclusion - Using the Modified Oswestry Low back pain Disability Index the study concluded that maximum bus drivers suffer from moderate to severe disability due to Low back pain. Key words: Bus Drivers, Low Back pain, Disability, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Modified Oswestry Disability Rating Scale.