SELF-REPORTED FUNCTIONING AND BOTHERSOMENESS IN ADULTS WITH POSTURAL LOW BACK PAIN

Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Limited empirical evidence exists regarding adults' perceptions of functioning and bothersomeness associated with postural low back pain. Poor posture has been implicated in the genesis of both acute and chronic low back pain, as well as other musculoskeletal disorders, within the adult population. The sequelae of postural low back pain can significantly impair activities of daily living, emotional well-being, upper and lower extremity function, and community participation. In this study, functioning and bothersomeness were assessed as key outcome measures to quantify the impact of symptoms on daily activities and the degree of discomfort experienced by individuals. These parameters were evaluated using the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA), a self-reported questionnaire. The primary objective of this investigation was to ascertain the self-reported levels of functioning and bothersomeness among adults experiencing postural backache in the Rawalpindi and Islamabad regions. METHODOLOGY: This study included 327 adult participants ranging in age from 18 to 44 years. The primary self-reported outcome measure utilized was the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA), which comprises two subcategories: the Functional Index and the Bothersomeness Index. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was chosen. Data were collected through both hard-copy questionnaires and web-based surveys disseminated online. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA) is scored on a scale from 0 to 100, where a score of 0 signifies no dysfunction or bothersomeness, and a score of 100 or more indicates severe dysfunction and significant bothersomeness. Statistical analysis revealed that 223 (68.2%) participants reported a "good" health status despite experiencing postural backache. CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicate that the overall health status concerning function, as assessed by the Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment (SMFA), is largely "good." This suggests that the majority of the adult population in this study exhibited a functional index score within the healthy range, and their bothersomeness index score was low, indicating minimal distress from their symptoms. However, further research is warranted to explore self-reported functioning and bothersomeness across diverse populations affected by musculoskeletal conditions.