HEALTH FRONTIERS (MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS)
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026)

Back Pain Exercise Intervention for Low Back Pain Management Among Fishing Community Workers: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study with Pre–Post Evaluation

Nisha Dharmayanti Rinarto (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Setiadi (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Nuh Huda (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Christina Yuliastuti (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Nur Muji Astuti (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Dedi Irawandi (Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Hang Tuah Surabaya)
Kon Alier (University of Juba)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Oct 2026

Abstract

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major occupational health problem among informal sector workers, particularly fishing community members who perform repetitive and physically demanding tasks with limited ergonomic support. In Indonesia, coastal fishing communities often have inadequate access to occupational health services Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of LBP among fishing community workers in Sukolilo Baru, Bulak, Surabaya, and evaluate the effect of a structured Back Pain Exercise (BPE) intervention combined with health education on pain intensity. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study with a pre–post intervention evaluation was conducted among 35 workers recruited through purposive sampling following STROBE and TIDieR guidelines. The intervention consisted of a structured health education session and a supervised BPE programme, with pain intensity measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS 0–10).  Results: LBP prevalence was 91.4% (n = 32), with 62.5% reporting moderate pain and 37.5% reporting mild pain. Following the intervention, all LBP-positive participants demonstrated a reduction in pain intensity (median NPRS decreased from 5.0 to 3.0; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression identified work duration ?8 hours/day (aOR 4.82; 95% CI: 1.94–11.98; p = 0.001), frequent heavy lifting (aOR 3.91; 95% CI: 1.42–10.74; p = 0.008), and non-ergonomic posture (aOR 3.44; 95% CI: 1.21–9.77; p = 0.020)  Conclusion: BPE combined with structured health education is a feasible and effective non-pharmacological approach for reducing LBP severity in coastal informal work settings. Community-based occupational health programmes targeting ergonomic risk factors should be integrated into primary healthcare networks for vulnerable maritime workers.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

mjhp

Publisher

Subject

Dentistry Health Professions Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health Veterinary

Description

Health Frontiers is an national /scientific journal, double-blind peer-reviewed, open acces journal published by Tarqabin Nusantara Group. Health Frontiers provides a means for ongoing discussion of relevant issues that fall within the focus and scope of the journal that can be empirically examined. ...