Efektivitas Senam Ergonomis terhadap Tingkat Nyeri pada Petani Penderita Low Back Pain di Desa Kaliwining Rambipuji Jember

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among farmers, primarily caused by poor ergonomic practices, such as prolonged bending postures, heavy lifting, and long working hours. This condition may reduce work productivity and negatively affect quality of life. In Kaliwining Village, LBP cases are high, but non-pharmacological management is still limited. One potential solution is ergonomic exercise, adapted from prayer movements, which helps improve flexibility, posture, and reduce muscle tension. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental pre-post control group design with 30 participants divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received ergonomic exercises, while the control group received no treatment. Pain levels were measured using the Pain and Distress Scale and analyzed with Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney tests. Result: This study indicates that the intervention group experienced a reduction in pain intensity from moderate to mild following the implementation of ergonomic exercises. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the control group, with pain levels remaining in the moderate category. The Wilcoxon test results showed a significant difference in the intervention group (p = 0.001), while the difference in the control group was not significant (p = 0.337). The Mann-Whitney test revealed a significant difference between the two groups in the posttest measurements (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Ergonomic exercises have been shown to effectively reduce pain intensity by optimizing blood flow, relaxing muscles, and improving flexibility and posture. The lack of changes in the control group underscores the significance of physical intervention in the management of lower back pain. Therefore, ergonomic exercises can be recommended as a safe, practical, and cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention method to alleviate lower back pain among farmers.