Good postural habits and back pain - An investigation of Prochaska's transtheoretical model of behavioral change

Using a cross-sectional design, we examined assumptions with regard to the relationship between stages: of change,postural habits, back pain, well-bei ng, and participation in a back school training derived from the transtheor etical model of behavioral change. The sample consisted of 160 students of physiotherapy, nursing, speech therapy and technical assistance (Mean age 2 4.9 years, SD = 7.3; 73 % female). Twenty-five % were assigned to pre-actio n stages, 20 % to the action stage, and 55 % to the maintenance stage. Only participants in the contemplation, action, or maintenance stags were inclu ded in the analysis. Students who demonstrated good postural habits for at least six months had a tendency to report less back pain compared to those who did not (p = .052). In addition, they displayed better postural habits, participated more often in a back school training and indicated better wel l-being than those in previous stages. Students of physiotherapy were more often in: an advanced stage of change compared with the other students. The se results demonstrate the validity of the transtheoretical model for good postural behavior.