A Study to Assess the Effect of Cat-Camel Stretch Exercise on Reducing the Level of Backpain among Factory Workers in Selected Industry at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems among factory workers due to prolonged standing, heavy lifting, and repetitive physical activities. It negatively affects physical health, work performance, and overall quality of life. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of Cat-Camel stretch exercise on reducing the level of back pain among factory workers in a selected industry at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A quantitative research approach with a true experimental pre-test and post-test only design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted at Star Footwear, Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur. A total of 60 factory workers with back pain were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured demographic proforma and Likert scale to assess the level of back pain. The demographic findings revealed that the majority of participants were in the age group of 41–50 years (40%). Most of them were engaged in prolonged standing work (51.67%), and 56.67% worked for 8–10 hours per day. Nearly 46.67% had less than 5 years of work experience, and 61.67% did not practice regular physical exercise. In terms of duration of back pain, 51.67% of participants reported experiencing pain for less than 6 months. The Cat-Camel stretch exercise was administered to the participants for a period of 7 days. The comparison between pre-test and post-test findings showed a reduction in the level of back pain among factory workers after the intervention, indicating the effectiveness of the exercise. The study concluded that Cat-Camel stretch exercise is a simple, safe, and cost-effective intervention that can significantly reduce back pain among factory workers. It can be easily incorporated into daily routines and workplace health programs to promote better physical health and productivity. Keywords: Back pain, Cat-Camel stretch exercise, factory workers, exercise therapy, true