Prevalence of low back pain among physical therapy students in virtual learning setting / [author]: BALDOVINO, MARIA KYLA S., ESQUIG, ARVYDAZ C., RAMOS, JAYNA MHAREE A., RAMOS, POULINE V., ROSALES, RAFELLE STEENA T., SANCHEZ, EDINE JOY A., SANTOS, YSABELLE P., VENTURA, CHABELITA M. [co-author]: KEITH R. MAUSISA,

Includes Appendix.

ABSTRACT:
Background: The ongoing pandemic required schools to transition from face-to-face learning to virtual learning. This transition resulted in having students face their computers/tablets for long periods of hours. Low Back Pain has been found to limit a person's daily activities, and is considered to be a prevalent musculoskeletal condition and a leading cause of disability and decreased productivity.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LBP among physical therapy students of FEU-NRMF of S.Y 2021-2022 per year level during the virtual class setting. The study also identified the risk factors of LBP in physical therapy students during virtual class settings and determined the severity of LBP in physical therapy students per year level during a
virtual learning setting.
Methods: Quantitative cross-sectional study design was used in this research. The researchers utilized a self-report survey questionnaire to accomplish quantitative design of the study.
Results: The prevalence rate of LBP among PT students in a virtual learning setting was 58.82%. Risk factors that yielded high results for student with LBP are smoking (with LBP = 20% & without LBP = 14%), >5 hours spent in computer/tablet (with LBP = 100% & without LBP = 85.71%), uncomfortable furniture (with LBP = 64% & without LBP = 70% ), and feeling overwhelmed (with LBP = 25% & without LBP = 7.14%).
Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of LBP (58.82%) with the first-year PT students having the highest rate (75%), followed by the second-year PT students (69.23%) while the third-year students had the least prevalence rate (47.05%). In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of LBP among the first-year PT students having the highest rate, followed by the second-year PT students while the third-year students having the least prevalence rate. On the other hand, the evidence that was found in this review shows that the risk factors are not significant in terms of causing LBP. The results of Chi-square analysis does not affect the prevalence rating of LBP among PT students of FEU-NRMF. As for the ODI, the majority of the PT students garnered scores indicating that those who had LBP presents with minimal disability while the remaining students had moderate disability.

School of Physical Therapy