Low Back Pain Among Rubber Farmers: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53089/medula.v16i3.1818Keywords:
low back pain, risk factors, rubber farmersAbstract
Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders experienced by agricultural workers, including rubber farmers, due to heavy physical demands, repetitive activities, and non-ergonomic work postures. The high prevalence of LBP among rubber farmers has the potential to reduce work productivity, increase the risk of disability, and negatively impact quality of life. This study aims to review the literature related to the incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and prevention and management efforts for Low Back Pain in rubber farmers. The method used is a literature review by searching for scientific articles through the Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Garuda databases. The articles included were original studies in Indonesian and English published in the last ten years and discussed LBP in rubber farmers or agricultural workers with similar work characteristics. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of LBP among rubber farmers was relatively high, ranging from 33% to more than 70%. The main risk factors include heavy workloads, non-ergonomic work postures, repetitive work activities, prolonged standing or bending, and working without ergonomic training. Individual factors such as age, length of service, body mass index, and smoking habits also contribute to an increased risk of LBP. Recommended LBP prevention and management efforts include applying ergonomic principles at work, regulating work and rest times, occupational health education, stretching and back muscle strengthening exercises, and controlling individual risk factors. The conclusion of this literature review indicates that LBP among rubber farmers is a multifactorial occupational health problem that requires ergonomic interventions and continuous occupational health promotion.
References
Hurwitz EL, Randhawa K, Yu H, Côté P, Haldeman S. The Global Spine Care Initiative: A summary of the global burden of low back and neck pain studies. Eur Spine J. 2018;27(Suppl 6):796–801. doi:10.1007/s00586-017-5432-9.
Muna, Pambudi P. Prevalence of neuropathic pain in Low Back Pain patients at community health center. J Public Health Vulnerability. 2025;6:23–26.
Udom C, Janwantanakul P, Kanlayanaphotporn R. The prevalence of Low Back Pain and its associated factors in Thai rubber farmers. J Occup Health. 2016;58(6):534–542.
Hikmah M, Utami RS, Wulandari Y. Pengaruh kompres hangat jahe (Zingiber officinale) terhadap penurunan skala nyeri pada pasien Low Back Pain di Rumah Sakit Bakti Timah Karimun. Diagnosa J Ilmu Kesehatan dan Keperawatan. 2024;2(2):1–12.
Harrison SA, Ogollah R, Dunn KM, Foster NE, Konstantinou K. Prevalence, characteristics, and clinical course of neuropathic pain in primary care patients consulting with low back-related leg pain. Clin J Pain. 2020;36(11):813–824. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000861.
Farid F, Siahaan E, Usman MA. Angka kejadian Low Back Pain (LBP) pada mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Hasanuddin angkatan 2019. J Sci Res Dev. 2023;5(1):77–85.
Pinzon RT, Wijaya VO, Paramitha D, Bagaskara RR. Effects of eperisone hydrochloride and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs for acute non-specific back pain with muscle spasm: a prospective open-label study. Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2020;12:221–228. doi:10.2147/DHPS.S278467.
Hanifa E, Koesmayadi D, Susanti Y. Hubungan beban kerja fisik dengan kejadian Low Back Pain (LBP) pada kuli panggul beras di Pasar Induk Gedebage Bandung. J Integr Kesehat Sains. 2020;2(2):122–125.
Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. Laporan Nasional Riskesdas 2018. Jakarta: Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Kesehatan; 2019.
Lee HJ, Oh JH, Yoo JR, et al. Prevalence of Low Back Pain and associated risk factors among farmers in Jeju. Saf Health Work. 2021;12(4):432–438. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2021.08.002.
Chokprasit P, Yimthiang S, Veerasakul S. Predictors of Low Back Pain risk among rubber harvesters. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(17):10492. doi:10.3390/ijerph191710492.
Nugraha RA, Widjaya JAC, Achsan BN. Analisis faktor risiko Low Back Pain pada petani. CoMPHIJournal Community Med Public Health Indones J. Tahun;4(1):21–27.
Rini WNE, Aswin B, Hidayati F. Risk factors for Low Back Pain among rubber factory workers. Formosa J Multidiscip Res. 2023;2(11):1815–1826.
Nabi MH, Rupa FH, Hossain M, et al. Factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders among male rice farmers: a cross-sectional study in five selected districts of Dhaka division, Bangladesh. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:4139.
Rosa AF, Azkiyah AR, Sary AN, Arif A, Angelia I, Marsyah F, Masdalena. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi terjadinya Low Back Pain pada petani karet di Desa Tanah Periuk, Kabupaten Bungo, Provinsi Jambi. J Kesehat Med Saintika. 2024;15(2).
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Ergonomic solutions for agricultural workers. Washington (DC): NIOSH; 2021.
Nurriwanti NSS, Sari RK, Gustav JS, Lathif ZA, Anggreany JD, Haryanto KAW. Efektivitas sosialisasi Low Back Pain sebagai upaya meningkatkan pengetahuan risiko Low Back Pain pada Kelompok Tani Mulyo Kecamatan Matesih. J Sains dan Kesehatan. 2024;8(2):10–16.
Saksorngmuang P, Kaewboonchoo O, Ross R, Boonyamalik P. Working hazards and health problems among rubber farmers in Thailand. Walailak J Sci Technol. 2020;17(3):222–236.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Medical Profession Journal of Lampung
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
