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Postgraduate medical residents have an alarmingly high prevalence of low back pain, with significant associations to exercise, lifestyle, work satisfaction, and anxiety.

The study found a 1-year prevalence of low back pain of 67.2% among 195 postgraduate medical residents. Key risk factors included long hours of sitting (74.4%), improper posture (72.8%), fatigue (64.6%), and bad mattress (53.8%).

Last updated: Jul 14, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Caring for Others, Neglecting Themselves? Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Medical Postgraduates.

observational

Mishra P, Waliullah S, Kumar V · Annals of African medicine (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Observational assessment of risk factors via self-administered questionnaire
Outcome: Prevalence of low back pain (lifetime, 1-year, point) and associated risk factors
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 195 postgraduate medical residents in a tertiary healthcare setting

Result:

PubMed: 42437733DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_452_26

Mechanism Graph

Long hours of sitting and working lead to sustained spinal loading
↓
Improper body posture increases mechanical stress on lumbar spine
↓
Fatigue reduces muscle support and coordination
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Result: High prevalence of low back pain

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Reliance on self-reported data may introduce recall bias
  • ⚠Single-center study limits generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the lifetime prevalence of low back pain in this study?▼

The lifetime prevalence was 17.4%.

What are the main risk factors for low back pain among medical residents?▼

Main risk factors include long hours of sitting (74.4%), improper body posture (72.8%), fatigue (64.6%), and bad mattress (53.8%).

How many participants were in the study?▼

The study included 195 postgraduate medical residents.

What factors were significantly associated with low back pain?▼

Significant associations were found with exercise, lifestyle, work satisfaction, and anxiety levels.

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References

  1. 1.Mishra P, Waliullah S, Kumar V. "Caring for Others, Neglecting Themselves? Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Medical Postgraduates.." Annals of African medicine, 2026. PMID: 42437733 DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_452_26
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.