Physiotherapist and patient perspectives on management of low back pain in an Arab, Islamic context

Abstract

Low back pain is a common health problem in all societies. It affects between 60% and 85% of adults at some time in their lives and is associated with individual suffering and substantial economic and societal costs. Non-specific acute and chronic low back pain account for about 90% of low back pain and its sufferers complain of somatic symptoms without clear specific cause. A number of studies have shown that cultural and psychosocial factors can be important in the prediction of both low back pain experience and disability. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of low back pain and the socio-cultural influences on physiotherapy management of non-specific low back pain in the Gaza Strip, with a view to developing new strategies for future physiotherapy practice.

Date of Award	Dec 2010
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton