Abstract
A large number of studies on low back pain in the rural area have been performed for the last few decades, but there are very few studies on low back pain in the farmers from epidemiological and physical therapeutic points of view. In this study epidemiological problems of farming relevant to low back pain were studied among 55 farmers participating in growing the vegetables in Sumoto, Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture.
The results were as follows:
1) Physical characteristics of farmers with low back pain were; flexibility of the spine was excellent, though muscular endurance of the spine was not satisfied.
2) Their improper working postures were highly connected with occurrence of low back pain.
From these results it may be suggested that daily exercise for a certain period is necessary to alleviate low back pain and the instruction of proper posture during their working from epidemiological point of view is also indispensable for the prevention of low back pain.
