LOW BACK PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH BMI CHANGE AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE IN MEDICAL STUDENTS AT UNAERP

Low back pain is a manifestation of pain, muscle spasm or stiffness located below the costal margin and above the lower gluteal fold, associated or not with pain radiating to the lower limb and buttocks. After arterial hypertension, painful affection of the spine is the second most prevalent chronic disease in the Brazilian population. Psychological factors, occupational factors, overweight and physical inactivity may be related to a higher frequency of episodes of low back pain, therefore, it is assumed that fifth-year medical students have a higher prevalence of low back pain compared to fourth-year students, due to supposedly more intense workloads that reduce their time for exercise and the stresses they are subjected to during the internship, which may interfere with their psychological health.