Handgrip strength and physical workload as key risk factors for low back pain in mothers of children with physical and intellectual disabilities: A post-COVID-19 study.

Abstract

BackgroundMothers raising children with disabilities may experience low back pain (LBP) due to depressive symptoms, physical workload (PW), and muscle weakness. Handgrip strength (HGS), a marker of total body muscular strength, is a controversial topic; however, its relationship with LBP in this population remains unclear and unexamined.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate LBP in mothers of children with physical and intellectual disabilities and its correlations with depression, physical workload, history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), handgrip strength, and socio-economic factors.MethodsThis descriptive study included mothers of 179 children with disabilities attending special education schools in Turkey between 2021 and 2022. Participants completed the Physical Workload Questionnaire (PWQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and were asked about LBP during the previous year and their history of COVID-19. The HGS of their dominant hand was measured using a hand dynamometer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with LBP.ResultsLBP was reported by 89.94% of the 179 enrolled mothers. The regression analysis indicated HGS < 28.50 lbs (odds ratio [OR] = 10.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09-53.03; <i>p</i> = 0.004) and PWQ score > 14.77 (OR = 4.88; 95% CI =1.43-16.59; <i>p</i> = 0.011) as independent risk factors for LBP.ConclusionsAssessment of HGS and PW may help identify the risk of LBP in mothers of children with physical or intellectual disabilities.