Low Back Pain Related Disabilities and Level of Physical Activity among Elders Live in the Community and Elder’s Home: A Comparative Study in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

A descriptive cross sectional analytical study was conducted in each 146 elders’ age between 65 – 70 years was conducted to assess low back pain (LBP) related disabilities and level of physical activity among elders live in the community and elder’s home.The level of LBP related disability was assessed by the Quebec Back Pain Disability scale while level of physical activity was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The mean ages of the elders who lived in elders’ home and in the community were 68.1 (2.02) and 67.3 (1.98) (yrs.). The significantly higher physical activity (PA) level and significantly lower mean disability percentage (MDP) were observed in elders lived in the community compared to elders lived in elders’ home respectively (p<0.05). Moreover, negatively associated significant correlation was observed between MDP and total PA among elders lived in elders` home (r= -0.214, p<0.001) while elders lived in community was not significant. Elders’ who lived in elders’ home stated that greater possibility for disabilities and medical comorbidities that need to be considered when planning strategies for elderly care in future.