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The Relationship Between Opium Smoking and Sway Back Posture and Spinal Musculoskeletal Disorders Publisher



O Massah OMID ; Am Arab Amir MASSOUD ; A Farhoudian ALI ; M Noroozi MEHDI ; F Hashemirad FAHIMEH
Authors

Source: Physical Treatments Published:2025


Abstract

Purpose: Opioid use disorder has increased worldwide in recent years, and Iran ranks first in terms of opium smoking in the world. Opium smoking by traditional methods, in addition to dependence on morphine, is a behavioral addiction in Iran. The body position during opium smoking is usually non-ergonomic. This study aims to compare sway-back posture and musculoskeletal problems between opium smokers and non-drug users. Methods: This cross-sectional research is a comparative study. We selected 80 people with opium use disorder (whose main method of their consumption was smoking) and 74 non-drug users. We compared them regarding sway angle (sway back posture) and musculoskeletal complaints (NORDIC questionnaire), and the association of possible risk factors was investigated. We analyzed data using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, correlation coefficient, and paired t-test using SPSS software, version 23. Results: Two study groups were significantly different in terms of sway back posture (P=0.007), neck (P<0.001), upper back (P<0.001), and lower back (P=0.006) musculoskeletal complaints. Homelessness had a significant correlation with sway back posture and musculoskeletal complaints. Also, the daily duration of opium smoking (in minutes) and opium smoking duration in lifetime (in months) were significantly correlated. Homelessness was the strongest predictor and had the strongest correlation. Conclusion: In general, increasing the duration of sitting in non-ergonomic positions can increase sway angle and sway back posture and increase musculoskeletal complaints of the neck, upper back, and lower back due to the non-neutral posture of opium smoking. It seems that plasticity and structural and functional adaptations of the posture occur due to opium smoking. So, further studies are recommended. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
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