Low back pain in military police activity: analysis of prevalence, associated factors, and ergonomics

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is a frequent occupational complaint, corresponding to a considerable portion of leaves of absence that lead to economic loss. This symptom is frequently observed in military police officers, which carry around mandatory gear, which increases overload of the lumbar spine. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low back pain among military police officers, to identify associated factors, and to assess ergonomic hazards. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, which analyzed the presence of low back pain, the degree of disability (with the Orwestry Disability Index), and possible associated factors in 2 subgroups of military police officers in the South region of the state of Santa Catarina. RESULTS: Our sample consisted in 221 military police officers; 194 wore belt holsters and 27 wore drop leg holsters. The first group showed a higher prevalence of low back pain (74.2%) and pain chronification (70.1%). A higher prevalence of pain was observed in the extremes of age and also among police officers who had been on the job longer. The mean Orwestry Disability Index was higher in the group wearing belt holsters. CONCLUSIONS: Protection gear carried around by military police officers may be related to low back pain complaints; a better weight distribution of this equipment on the body may be beneficial in the prevention of low back pain. The drop leg holster was demonstrated to be a possible solution, allowing weight distribution to the lower limbs and decreasing overload of the lumbar spine due to equipment weight.