Prevalence and risk factors of low back pain among Lithuanian national defense volunteer forces

More than four-fifths of military personnel have experienced low back pain at least once in their lifetime and within the past 12 months, with nearly half reporting LBP at the time of the survey. Identified risk factors for LBP include female sex, older age, lack of a partner, previous back injuries, elevated stress levels, smoking, self-reported poor health, and higher body mass index. LBP significantly affects military readiness, impairing the ability to perform service tasks in approximately two-thirds of affected soldiers.