Abstract

Low back pain is one of the most common ailments as it is very disabling, reducing the quality of life and very expensive. It generally occurs due to work or occupational activities.
Materials and Methods: Demographic details, details of past history, range of physical exercise, posture, smoking and alcohol consumption were taken from 168 patients belonging to lower socioeconomic group.
Results: Females were more affected than males and the most common age group was between 18-45 years. Most of the patients were students (14.3%), housewives (23.2%), laborers (26.8%), drivers (16.1%) and farmers (10.7%). Coffee consumption was seen regularly in 149 (88.7%) patients while only 8 (4.8%) neither drank coffee or tea. 98 (58.3%) regularly consumed alcohol and 59 (35.1%) smoked regularly. In 33 (19.6%) of the patients, the most probable cause of pain was excess physical exercise while 62 (36.9%) lifted heavy weights. 47 (28%) were highly stresses and 83 (49.4%) had long sitting hours. 11 (6.5%) had a family history of chronic back pain and 57 (33.9%) were obese.
Conclusion: Early diagnosis and identification of risk factors would help in better management of low back pain as the patient grows older.