Frequency of lower back pain among the private security guards

Abstract

Background: Low back pain can result in severe and long-term impairment. The nature of the job, which often involves long hours of standing, walking, or lifting, causes strain on the lower back among security guards. Approximating the occurrence of lower back pain is challenging, as its incidence continues to rise, particularly in early adulthood. Objective: To evaluate the incidence of lower backache among private security guards in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A Cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 2017 to August 2017 after approval of synopsis. Data was collected from 124 security guards in Lahore by using Oswestry questionnaire for disability and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain.  Results: The frequency of lower back pain among security guards was 77 (62.1 %). 52.4% (65 individuals) reported not experiencing pain at the moment, while 47.6% (59 individuals) reported feeling pain at the time of survey. 33.9% (42 individuals) reported having no pain at the moment, while 22.6% (28 individuals) described their pain as very mild. 29.0% (36 individuals) experienced moderate pain, and 14.5% (18 individuals) reported their pain as fairly severe. Conclusion: Low back pain significantly affects the majority of security guards who took part in this study. The findings suggest that back pain is a major cause of disability, impacting the ability to sit, stand, and lift comfortably. This condition not only affects daily work performance but also has broader implications for the well-being and productivity of security personnel. Given the high prevalence of back pain in this profession, it is crucial to implement preventive measures and provide support to reduce its occurrence and improve overall health outcomes for security guards.