Comparison of Physical Fitness between Rice Farmers with and without Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
Panada Taechasubamorn MSc*, Tawesak Nopkesorn MD*, Supasit Pannarunothai MD, PhD*
Affiliation : * Department of Community Family and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
Objective : To compare physical fitness between rice farmers with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and a healthy control group.
Material and Method: Sixty-eight rice farmers with CLBP were matched according to age and sex with healthy farmers. All
subjects underwent nine physical fitness tests for body composition, lifting capacity, static back extensor endurance, leg
strength, static abdominal endurance, handgrip strength, hamstring flexibility, posterior leg and back muscles flexibility and
abdominal flexibility.
Results : There was no significant difference between CLBP and healthy groups for all tests, except the static back extensor
endurance. The back extensor endurance times of the CLBP group was significantly lower than that of the control group
(p = 0.002).
Conclusion : Static back extensor endurance is the deficient physical fitness in CLBP rice farmers. Back extensor endurance
training should be emphasized in both prevention and rehabilitation programs.
Keywords : Physical fitness, Back pain, Endurance, Farmer, Exercise
