Association of Non-specific Mechanical low Back Pain with Limited Ankle Dorsiflexion among Female Students

Abstract

Background: Mechanical low back pain is the pain in the lumbar area caused by aberrant stresses on the spine's vertebrae, ligaments, soft tissues, intervertebral discs, muscles and other soft tissues Objective: To determine the association between non-specific mechanical low back pain and limited ankle dorsiflexion among female students. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Agile Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences from November 2021-March 2022. A total of 133 female students of age 18-30 years were included in this study. Students wearing high heels were excluded. The data was collected using Numeric Pain Rating Scale questionnaire for low back pain and goniometry for measuring ankle dorsiflexion. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 to create graphs and tables. Chi square test was used for statistical analysis to find the association between low back pain and limited ankle dorsiflexion. Results: A total of 133 participants were screened for low back pain. Out of total, 61 (45.86%) participants with mechanical low back pain had limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (≤10 degree) on left side while 64 (48.12%) participants with mechanical low back pain had limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (≤10 degree) on right side ankle. P value of chi square association of low back pain and ankle dorsiflexion was 0.078 for right ankle and 0.114 for left ankle. Conclusions: This study concluded that there was no association found between non-specific mechanical low back pain and limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. Keywords: Ankle joint, Dorsiflexion, Mechanical Low Back Pain