The Relationship Between Driving Duration and Vehicle Vibration with Lower Back Pain

Abstract

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint experienced by truck drivers due to long driving hours and continuous exposure to vehicle vibration. This study aims to determine the relationship between driving duration and vehicle vibration with the incidence of low back pain in truck drivers. This study used a correlational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. The study population was 32 truck drivers. The sample was selected using purposive sampling based on inclusion criteria, comprising 30 respondents. Driving duration data were collected using a driving duration questionnaire, and vehicle vibration data were collected using an accelerometer, then analyzed using Spearman's rho correlation test with a significance level of 0.05. The results of the analysis showed that driving duration had no significant relationship with the incidence of low back pain (p-value> 0.05), while vehicle vibration showed a significant relationship with low back pain (p-value ≤ 0.05). These findings indicate that the length of driving time is not the main factor that directly contributes to the onset of low back pain. Exposure to whole-body vibration plays a greater role as a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back pain, in heavy vehicle drivers. Therefore, preventive measures should focus more on controlling vehicle vibrations and implementing ergonomic principles to reduce the risk of low back pain in truck drivers.