Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of low back pain among caregivers of
patients with spinal cord injury and to investigate the risk factors for LBP
among this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 100
spinal cord injured patients and their caregivers, and 87 healthy control
subjects. METHODS: Caregivers and control subjects completed a questionnaire
about demographic characteristics and low back pain. Pain was evaluated using a
visual analogue scale and the Oswestry Disability Index. Duration, severity and
level of spinal cord injury, and functional level were recorded. RESULTS: The
prevalence of low back pain was higher among caregivers than among the control
group. Visual analogue scale scores of caregivers with low back pain were higher
than those of the control group, whereas there was no significant difference in
the Oswestry Disability Index score. There was a significant correlation between
low back pain and level, severity and duration of injury. Prevalence of low back
pain was higher among caregivers of patients with low functional scores.
CONCLUSION: Low back pain is common among caregivers of patients with spinal cord
injury and is associated with duration of injury, level of injury, severity of
injury, and functional level of the patient.

Langue : ANGLAIS