The Relationship Between Sitting Position and the Severity of Lower Back Pain in Students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Bengkulu
Abstract
Background: Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaint among medical students. Sitting for long periods of time during lectures in an improper posture can affect this condition.
Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sitting posture and the severity of lower back pain in students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Bengkulu.
Methods: This study was an observational study with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 120 students were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Sitting posture was evaluated using the Questionnaire on Body Awareness of Postural Habits in Young People (Q-BAPHY), and the severity of lower back pain was evaluated using the Pain and Distress Scale (PAD). The association between variables was assessed using the Chi-square test at a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: The results showed that 60% of respondents had good sitting posture, while 40% had poor sitting posture. Most respondents experienced mild lower back pain (79.167%), while 20.833% experienced moderate lower back pain. Moderate lower back pain was reported by 33.3% of students with poor sitting posture, compared with 12.5% of students with good sitting posture. The analysis showed a significant association between sitting posture and the severity of lower back pain (p=0.006).
Conclusion: Sitting posture was significantly associated with the severity of lower back pain among students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Bengkulu. The application of ergonomic sitting postures may help reduce the risk of lower back pain among students.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30596/jih.v7i4.31913
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Jurnal Implementa Husada
Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara
Kampus Utama
Jl. Kapten Muchtar Basri No.3, Glugur Darat II,Medan
Sumatera Utara-20238
E-mail: jbcons@umsu.ac.id
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