Association between objectively measured physical activity and body mass index with low back pain: a large-scale cross-sectional study of Japanese men

• Published in: BMC public health 2018-03, Vol.18 (1), p.341-341, Article 341
• Main Authors: Hashimoto, Yuko, Matsudaira, Ko, Sawada, Susumu S, Gando, Yuko, Kawakami, Ryoko, Sloan, Robert A, Kinugawa, Chihiro, Okamoto, Takashi, Tsukamoto, Koji, Miyachi, Motohiko, Naito, Hisashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Accelerometry; Arthritis; Back pain; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Body weight; Chronic illnesses; Covariance; Cross-sectional studies; Diagnosis; Epidemiology; Exercise; Health aspects; Industrial safety; Linearity; Low back pain; Measurement; Men; Men's health; Nutrition; Obesity; Overweight; Pain; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Questionnaires; Regression models; Smoking; Studies; Systematic review
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5253-8

The relationship between the combination of physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) with low back pain (LBP) is unclear. The present study offers a cross-sectional assessment of how combinations of PA and BMI are related to LBP in Japanese men. Participants were 4022 Japanese men (mean age = 47) who underwent regular clinical examinations. PA was measured using a uniaxial accelerometer and divided into tertiles (PA , PA , PA ). A self-administered questionnaire was used to report on persistent LBP experience, drinking and smoking habits, and any existing lifestyle diseases. After covariance adjustment, a logistic regression model was used to assess how combinations of PA and BMI are related to persistent LBP. 428 of the participants had persistent LBP. A clear negative dose-response relationship was found between PA levels and persistent LBP (P for linearity = 0.012). Regarding BMI, odd ratios were shown to be higher in the overweight/obese category (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m ) than for the normal weight category (BMI