The Implication of Low Back Pain and Its Severity in Young Male Soldiers of Republic of Korea

Lee, Min Ho; Lee, Taeyeob; Jeong, Hoikeun; Chung, Jaewoo

doi:2016.2.1.10

Asian J Pain > Volume 2;2016 > Article

Clinical Article

Asian Journal of Pain 2016;2(1):10-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35353/ajp.2.1.10 Published online April 30, 2016.

The Implication of Low Back Pain and Its Severity in Young Male Soldiers of Republic of Korea

Min Ho Lee^1,2, Taeyeob Lee^1,3, Hoikeun Jeong^1,4, Jaewoo Chung^1,5

¹Department of Neurosurgery, The Armed Forces Il-Dong Hospital, Pocheon, Korea
²Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
³College of Nursing, Far East University, Eumseong, Korea
⁴College of Nursing, Jesus University, Jeonju, Korea
⁵Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Jaewoo Chung, Tel: 82-2-2290-8496, Fax: 82-2-2281-0954,
Email: jaewoo.chung.md@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective
Low back pain is common in South Korean soldiers, due to their arduous military training and physical activity. The aim of this study is to determine factors affecting the degree of low back pain in young male soldiers including objective radiological findings.
Methods
From November 2014 to March 2015, 262 patients with recently developed symptoms were enrolled. The patients completed a questionnaire. Questionnaire and information from MRI, X-ray and computed tomography images were reviewed. The VAS-LBP, VAS-RP, and ODI were evaluated to assessment the degree of symptoms. All patients were males in their 10 s and 20 s (range 18–28 years).
Results
All patients were males in their 20 s (median age 21 years, range 18–28 years). Military rank included private soldiers (n=29, 12.3%), private first-class (n=93, 39.4%), corporals (n=63, 26.7%), sergeants (n=38, 16.1%), and executive members over officers (n=13, 5.5%). Symptoms, other risk factors, and radiologic findings were compared. We could not reach statistically significant result for any risk factors for degenerative lumbar disc disorder. Military rank was negatively related with the degree of pain, although there was no difference of severity of degenerative lumbar disc disorder between each rank.
Conclusion
Military rank was a considerable social factor associate with the degree of low back pain in young male soldiers. Careful evaluation and treatment with systematic management of soldiers with low back pain seems prudent.

Key Words: Lumber disc degeneration; Lumber disc herniation; Young; Military.