Effectiveness of exercise programs to reduce low back pain among nurses and nursing assistants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of safety research 2024-06, Vol.89, p.312-321
• Main Authors: Indrayani, Ni Luh Dwi, Kao, Chi-Yin, Suyasa, I Gede Putu Darma, Padmalatha, Konara Mudiyanselage Sriyani, Chang, Jer-Hao, Wang, Chi-Jane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Exercise; Exercise program; Exercise Therapy - methods; Humans; Low back pain; Low Back Pain - prevention & control; Nurses; Nurses - statistics & numerical data; Nursing Assistants; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Pain relief; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• ISSN: 0022-4375; 1879-1247; 1879-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.01.001

•Exercise programs are effective in reducing low back pain for both nursing staff: nurses and nursing assistants.•Focusing on back and trunk exercises provide evidence based for low back pain relief for nurses and nursing assistants.•Exercise program for nurses and nursing assistants are more successful in those under 40 years old engaging in shorter exercise (20 sessions). Introduction: Nurses have a high prevalence of low back pain due to ergonomic hazards in healthcare workplaces. While exercise programs have been suggested as an intervention strategy, the effectiveness of low back pain programs has been inconsistent in the research literature. The purpose of study is to determine the effect of exercise programs to reduce low back pain among nursing staff. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted with five databases and systematically searched. Following the PRISMA guidelines, included studies evaluated low back pain relief among nurses or nursing assistants and described the exercise program. Two reviewers independently appraised, extracted, and synthesized all available studies. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022359511). Results: A total of 296 articles with 1,355 nursing staff from nine countries were obtained. Nine randomized controlled trials with a moderate to low risk of bias quality were included. Exercise programs had a small but significant effect on low back pain of nursing staff (SMD = -0.48; 95% CI = -0.76 to −0.19; p = 0.03, I2 = 62%, p = 0.001). A subgroup analysis of nurses and nursing assistants showed moderate and small effects, respectively (I2 = 0% p