Low back pain functional disability and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in Peruvian amateur athletes

Abstract

Background: Low Back Pain Functional Disability is one of the most critical physical limitations found in athletes, even leading to their temporary or permanent retirement. In this sense, this research aimed to evaluate the frequency of lumbar functional disability and its associated factors. Methods: We designed transversal research and evaluated athletes from the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD) of Ica in athletics, basketball, and table tennis. We administered a file to obtain demographic and epidemiological data. We identified low back pain with the DN4 instrument (Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions) and lumbar functional disability with the athlete's disability index. Results: We evaluated 130 amateur athletes (table tennis=30, basketball=50, and athletics=50), with an average age of 23.9±8.2 years, and constituted 63.9% of men. 30% (CI95: 22.3-38.7%) of the population presented lumbar functional disability (moderate 56.4%, severe 30.8%, and very high 12.8%). Factors associated with lumbar functional disability were age (PR: 1.05, CI95: 1.01-1.09), female sex (PR: 2.21, CI95:  1.08-4.50) and neuropathic pain (PR: 0.35, CI95: 0.16-0.80). Conclusions: The frequency of lumbar functional disability is high among athletes who practice table tennis, basketball, and athletics. It is crucial to strengthen fitness programs accompanied by a periodic medical evaluation that allows the timely identification of injuries and potential functional disability due to low back pain.