Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Back pain (BP) is a common condition that affects people of all ages. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) is a key element in maintaining health. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain (BP) in students with long COVI...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1038 |
| _version_ | 1797297879106191360 |
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| author | Monika Gałczyk Anna Zalewska |
| author_facet | Monika Gałczyk Anna Zalewska |
| author_sort | Monika Gałczyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Back pain (BP) is a common condition that affects people of all ages. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) is a key element in maintaining health. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain (BP) in students with long COVID symptoms and to determine the relationship between the level of PA and BP in students with and without long COVID. Methods: A survey was carried out among 402 students from Poland. The inclusion criteria were as follows: student status, age of over 18 years, history of COVID-19, and consent to participate in the study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of PA. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to assess BP. Results: We found that at least half of the students surveyed did not experience any lumbosacral or cervical spine pain. The authors found no association between the level of PA in women and a history of long COVID symptoms, while there were statistically significant differences in intense PA in men (<i>p</i> = 0.0263), with those who did not report long COVID symptoms being more active. With regard to cervical and lumbar spine pain complaints, in our study, these were statistically significantly stronger in students who were observed to have long COVID symptoms. The difference was not significant only for lumbosacral complaints among men. No strong correlations were found between PA level and the severity of BP. Conclusion: Additional investigation is required to comprehend the complex interaction between long COVID symptoms and levels of PA and BP. Special attention should be paid to the prevention of back pain mainly in the COVID-19 group of students. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92dc3b79d2614f2884f3c776610ea158 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:26:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-92dc3b79d2614f2884f3c776610ea1582024-02-23T15:22:06ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832024-02-01134103810.3390/jcm13041038Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional StudyMonika Gałczyk0Anna Zalewska1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, 14 Akademicka St., 18-400 Lomza, PolandFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomza, 14 Akademicka St., 18-400 Lomza, PolandBackground: Back pain (BP) is a common condition that affects people of all ages. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity (PA) is a key element in maintaining health. The purpose of this research was to determine the level of physical activity and back pain (BP) in students with long COVID symptoms and to determine the relationship between the level of PA and BP in students with and without long COVID. Methods: A survey was carried out among 402 students from Poland. The inclusion criteria were as follows: student status, age of over 18 years, history of COVID-19, and consent to participate in the study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of PA. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to assess BP. Results: We found that at least half of the students surveyed did not experience any lumbosacral or cervical spine pain. The authors found no association between the level of PA in women and a history of long COVID symptoms, while there were statistically significant differences in intense PA in men (<i>p</i> = 0.0263), with those who did not report long COVID symptoms being more active. With regard to cervical and lumbar spine pain complaints, in our study, these were statistically significantly stronger in students who were observed to have long COVID symptoms. The difference was not significant only for lumbosacral complaints among men. No strong correlations were found between PA level and the severity of BP. Conclusion: Additional investigation is required to comprehend the complex interaction between long COVID symptoms and levels of PA and BP. Special attention should be paid to the prevention of back pain mainly in the COVID-19 group of students.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1038long COVIDstudentsphysical activityneck painlow back pain |
| spellingShingle | Monika Gałczyk Anna Zalewska Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study Journal of Clinical Medicine long COVID students physical activity neck pain low back pain |
| title | Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Long COVID Symptoms vs. Back Pain and Physical Activity among Students in Poland—Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | long covid symptoms vs back pain and physical activity among students in poland cross sectional study |
| topic | long COVID students physical activity neck pain low back pain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/4/1038 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monikagałczyk longcovidsymptomsvsbackpainandphysicalactivityamongstudentsinpolandcrosssectionalstudy AT annazalewska longcovidsymptomsvsbackpainandphysicalactivityamongstudentsinpolandcrosssectionalstudy |