IMPACT OF USING BACK BELTS AND BACK PHYSIOTHERAPY ON REDUCING LOW BACK PAIN AMONG OPERATIVE ROOM NURSES IN NORTH PALESTINIAN HOSPITALS

Objectives: The main objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of using back belts, and performing back massage in reducing low back pain among operative room nurses. In addition to determine the risk factors that contributed low back pain among operative room nurses. Methods: Interventional study method was used (pre-test and post-test) to evaluate the effectiveness of back physiotherapy and using back belts in preventing and reducing low back pain among operative nurses. Assessment in the pre-test was performed to identify the operative nurses who had low back pain, the participated nurses had sessions of back physiotherapy twice weekly for 3 months’ duration, in addition to using back belts during their working hours. In post-test evaluation for the effectiveness of the interventional methods was performed. Results: The results showed that there was no significant relationship between using back belt and performing back physiotherapy in preventing and reducing back pain among operative nurses. Discussion: There were variation in the results according to the location of pain and intensity of pain. Bending was the highest risk factor that contribute low back pain, this result was manipulated by using the interventional methods of the study. Previous studies supported the findings of this study as documented that physical therapy and support low back may be helpful in reducing back pain, while other studies revealed that the low back pain is a psychosomatic symptom which is relieved by rest or sleep.