Nita C.
Kusumaningayu W.
Diyono Fisiomu.
Vol 7.
:14-18 DOI : https://10.
23917/fisiomu.
The Relationship Between Sitting Duration and the Incidence of Low Back Pain Among Bus Drivers Charisma Nirmala Nita1*.
Warih Anjari Dyah Kusumaningayu2.
Diyono3
1,2,3
Bachelor of Applied Physiotherapy.
Faculty of Health Sciences.
National School of Health Sciences.
Indonesia Email: charismanirmala12@gmail.
Submition : 2025-08-21.
Accepted : 2025-12-11.
Published : 2026-01-01
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The job of a bus driver requires sitting for long periods in a static position within a confined workspace.
This condition poses a risk of musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back pain (LBP), which is caused by high biomechanical stress on the spine.
LBP is one of the most common complaints among informal sector workers such as drivers, who often neglect occupational safety and health factors.
This can occur due to prolonged sitting without breaks and non-ergonomic sitting positions, which may lead to muscle fatigue and lower back pain.
This study aimed to determine the relationship between sitting duration and the incidence of low back pain among bus drivers.
Methods:
This research was an observational study with a correlational approach.
A sample of 91 respondents was selected using random sampling from a total population of 118 bus drivers at the Giri Adipura Terminal.
Wonogiri.
Data were collected using questionnaires and lower back pain examinations with the Lasegue Test and palpation.
The data were analyzed using the Spearman test with SPSS version 25.
Results: The majority of respondents .
7%) had a sitting duration of 5Ae8 hours per day.
The Spearman test results showed that there was no significant relationship between sitting duration and the incidence of low back pain .
-value = 0.
p > 0.
This is because the drivers demonstrated high awareness of occupational health by regularly performing stretching exercises and maintaining proper posture while driving.
In addition, the company paid attention to driver comfort and occupational health by providing ergonomic seats and adequate rest schedules.
These facilities help reduce biomechanical stress on the spine and support a healthier working condition for drivers.
Conclusion: This study shows that there is no significant relationship between sitting duration and the incidence of low back pain among bus drivers.
Keywords: low back pain, sitting duration, bus drivers ISSN 2722 Ae 9610
E AeISSN 2722 - 9629
INTRODUCTION
Sitting for long periods without taking breaks can affect the structure of the spine due to the biomechanical processes that occur in the vertebral column (Devira et al.
This condition can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain (LBP), which is a common lower back ache.
According to data (Pratama et al.
LBP is the most common complaint compared to other musculoskeletal disorders, especially among informal workers.
Jobs that pose a risk of low back pain include those with long working hours that require employees to sit for extended periods in a fixed sitting position (Atmaja and Ghurri 2.
The job of a bus driver requires sitting for long periods in a confined workspace with a mostly static A previous study by (Syafitri et al.
showed that low back pain is commonly experienced by drivers due to non-ergonomic sitting postures.
The etiology of low back pain is divided into two factors: mechanical factors, which cause disorders in the lower back muscles known as myogenic low back pain and nonmechanical factors, such as neoplasms, infections, and inflammatory arthritis (Hadi and Hasmar 2.
According to (Rahmawati 2.
the risk factors for low back pain include internal factors, such as age, sex, body mass index, and smoking habits, and external factors, such as physical activity and work-related aspects .
orking duration, workload, working posture, and length of servic.
Classified according to four criteria: duration .
cute, sub-acute, and chroni.
, cause .
pecific and non-specifi.
, pain characteristics .
echanical pain, radicular pain, and non-specific pai.
, and severity level .
ild, moderate, and sever.
Specific tests such as the FISIO MU: Physiotherapy Evidences ISSN 2722 Ae 9610 E AeISSN 2722 - 9629 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.
0 International License.
Nita C.
Kusumaningayu W.
Diyono Fisiomu.
Vol 7.
:14-18 DOI : https://10.
23917/fisiomu.
Lasegue Test and palpation can be performed (Nooryana and Setyawan 2.
Pain assessment can also be conducted using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), which usually ranges from 0 to 10, with each number indicating a different level of pain intensity This study is important due to the high incidence of LBP among drivers and the low awareness of workplace ergonomics (Klaudia et al.
By understanding the relationship between sitting duration and LBP, the findings of this study are expected to contribute to preventive and promotive occupational health efforts for bus drivers.
elderly respondents aged 46Ae65 years .
1%),
adolescents aged 18Ae25 years .
2%), and seniors aged over 65 years .
1%).
Sex Table 5.
Research Data Based on Sex Sex N Percentage (%) Male Total Based on Table 5, it can be seen that all respondents were male .
%).
Low BackPain Table 6.
Research Data Based on Low Back Pain Pain Level Percentage (%) No Pain Mild Pain Moderate Pain Severe Pain Total Based on Table 6, it can be seen that 71.
of respondents did not experience pain, 26.
experienced mild pain, and 2.
2% experienced moderate pain.
METHODS
This study was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach.
The study population consisted of all intercity bus drivers (AKAP) at the Giri Adipura Terminal.
Wonogiri, totaling 118 drivers.
A sample of 91 respondents was selected randomly using the Slovin formula with a 5% margin of error.
Data were collected using a personal data questionnaire, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) to measure pain, and physical examinations including the Lasegue Test and palpation.
The study was conducted from January 4 to 15, 2025.
The independent variable was sitting duration, and the dependent variable was the incidence of low back pain (LBP).
Data were analyzed using the Spearman Rank test with SPSS version 25.
Univariate analysis was used to describe the characteristics of the respondents, while bivariate analysis was used to test the relationship between variables.
Length of Service Table 7 Research Data Based on Length of Service Length of Service Percentage (%) <4 Years Ou4 Years Total Based on Table 7, it can be seen that 16.
of respondents had worked for less than 4 years, 5% had worked for 4 years or more.
RESULTS
Age Table 4.
Research Data Based on Age
Percentage Age Group
(%)
Adolescents .
Ae25 2 2.
Adults .
Ae45 year.
Elderly .
Ae65 year.
Senior (>65 year.
Total
91 100%
Based on Table 4, it can be seen that the respondents with the highest age frequency were adults aged 26Ae45 years .
6%), followed by FISIO MU: Physiotherapy Evidences ISSN 2722 Ae 9610 E AeISSN 2722 - 9629 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.
0 International License.
Nita C.
Kusumaningayu W.
Diyono Fisiomu.
Vol 7.
:14-18 DOI : https://10.
23917/fisiomu.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Table 8.
Research Data Based on Body Mass Index Percentage BMI Category (%) Underweight (<18.
Normal .
5Ae22.
Overweight .
Ae Obese I .
0Ae29.
Obese II (>.
Total Based on Table 8, it can be seen that most respondents had a Body Mass Index (BMI) in the Obese I category .
5%), followed by Normal .
1%).
Overweight .
8%).
Obese II .
4%),
and Underweight .
3%).
DISCUSSION