Low back pain and lumbar angles in Turkish coal miners

Background This study was designed to assess the incidence of low back pain among Turkish coal miners and to investigate the relationship between angles of the lumbar spine and low back pain in coal miners. Methods Fifty underground workers (Group I) and 38 age-matched surface workers (Group II) were included in the study. All the subjects were asked about low back pain in the past 5 years. The severity of low back pain was evaluated with 10 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Modified oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (MOSW) was used to measure functional disability. Sacral horizontal angle (SHA), lumbosacral angle (LSA), and lumbar lordosis were measured through Cobb method. Results The prevalance of low back pain was higher in Group I than in Group II (78.0%, 32.4%, respectively, P < 0.001). The mean VAS score was higher in Group I than in Group II (P < 0.05). There was no difference in MOSW scores between the two Groups. The mean SHA was lower in Group I than in Group II (P = 0.02). No statistically significant difference was determined in lumbar angles of underground and surface workers with low back pain (P > 0.05). Conclusions The results of the study showed that low back pain occurred in 78.0% of Turkish coal miners. Although the nature of the occupation may have influenced coal miners' lumbar spinal curvature, lumbar angles are not a determinant for low back pain in this population. Further extensive studies involving ergonomic measurements are needed to validate our results for Turkish coal mining industry.