Association of Sitting Posture with Low Back Pain Among University Students

Prolonged sitting and rising back pain among students have been linked to reduced motivation toward career-oriented opportunities. Objective: To find an association of sitting posture with low back pain among university students. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted over a 6-month period at the University of Lahore, using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. A total of 189 university students aged 18–25 years were recruited based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected through a self-structured questionnaire comprising three sections: demographics, postural habits (using a validated postural awareness questionnaire), and low back pain assessment (using a validated adolescent LBP questionnaire). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0. Results: In this observational study of university students aged 18–25, 39% were between 18–21 years old and 60% were 22–25 years. The sample comprised 34% males and 65% females. Most students were enrolled in the English Department (38%), Allied Health Sciences (34%), or Information Technology (27%). Regarding sedentary time, 45% reported sitting for about five hours daily, while 54% sat for five to ten hours. Ergonomic seating was limited only 32% used chairs with back and arm support, while 67% sat on chairs without such features. Postural analysis showed that over half (52%) adopted kyphotic or hyper-lordotic postures, 21% slouched, and just 24% maintained a neutral spine. Overall, 66% displayed poor posture during classes and this rose to 76% at home. Conclusion: This study concluded that sitting posture was significantly associated with low back pain.