Epidemiological trends and clinical spectrum of spine disorders in a rural tertiary care physiotherapy clinic – a cross-sectional study Doi: https://doi.org/10.55522/jhpo.V3I4.0079

Abstract

Spine disorders are a leading cause of disability, especially in rural populations due to occupational and ergonomic factors. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological trends and clinical spectrum of spine disorders in a rural tertiary care physiotherapy setting in Maharashtra. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 932 physiotherapy OPD patients. Data were stratified by gender and categorized into degenerative, posture-related, and other disorders. Descriptive statistics were used. Females constituted 51.72% of cases. Degenerative disorders predominated (67.27%), followed by posture-related (28.33%) and others (4.40%). Cervical radiculopathy (33.01%), lumbar radiculopathy (23.76%), and prolapsed intervertebral disc (22.17%) were most common. Mechanical low back pain (34.09%) and neck pain (21.59%) led to posture-related conditions. A high burden of degenerative and posture-related disorders highlights the need for early physiotherapy, targeted rehabilitation, and ergonomic interventions.