Journal of Ergonomics

Introduction: Low back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain syndrome which leads to activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between severity of low back pain and work limitation in patients with acute and chronic low back pain.

Methods: Ninety patients with acute and chronic low back pain who attended the rheumatology Clinic of Booali Hospital were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire containing demographic information and one about the onset and cause of low back pain were asked from patients. Work Limitation Questionnaire was asked from patients. Severity of pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. All the data were analysed using SPSS software.

Results: The results showed that the most common cause of low back pain was discopathy with 33 patients (36.7%). There was no significant difference between males and females in terms of work limitation (P = 0.66). Patients with discopathy showed the most severe work limitations (72%). Also, there was a significant relationship between severity of work limitation and patients' age. Older patients had more severity of work limitations (P < 0.001, r = 0.42). There was a significant correlation between work limitation and severity of pain. Patients with increasing pain had more severity of work limitations (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results showed that with increasing age and pain work limitations will increase due to low back pain.