Caring-Related Chronic Low Back Pain and Associated Factors among Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Literature indicated some risk factors for low back pain; however, there is insufficient knowledge on the effect ofcaring-related physical activities and individual characteristics on Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) in mothers of children withCerebral Palsy (CP).Objective. The main aim of the current study was to determine the association between caring-relatedphysical activities, Body Mass Index (BMI), education level, and CLBP in mothers of children with CP.Design. Case-controlobservational study.Setting. Pediatric rehabilitation clinics.Participants. Mothers of children with CP.Main Outcome Measures.Measures is comprised of a self-administered questionnaire that included the demographic characteristics items, pain visualanalog scale, and three items of the job-related physical demands questionnaire. The logistic regression model served to assessthe association.Results. The control group included 81 healthy mothers, with a mean (SD) age of 39 (8.45) years, and the casegroup contained 90 mothers who suffered from CLBP, with a mean (SD) age of 37 (8.64) years. Performing lifting movements(OR 13.73,β=2:62,p<:001), BMI (OR 11.85,β=2:47,p=:011), repetitive bending (OR 7.67,β=2:04,p=:010), forward-flexion(OR 6.71,β=1:91,p=:033), and level of education (OR .21,β=−1:53,p=:020), in descending order of odds ratios, were foundto be significant predictors of the CLBP in mothers of children with CP.Conclusion. Avoiding caring-related harmful physicalactivities, maintaining body weight within a healthy range, and increasing knowledge for accurate lifting/handling techniques canbe helpful to prevent the CLBP in mothers of children with CP