International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391 Volume 5 Issue 5, May 2016 www.ijsr.net Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY Frequency of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Nurses Working in Hospitals of Lahore Faizan Asghar 1 , Sarah Ehsan 2 , Hafiz Sheraz Arshad 3 1 Physical Therapist, Azra Naheed Medical College, Department of Physical Therapy, Main Raiwind Road, Lahore 2 Senior lecturer, Azra Naheed Medical College, Department of Physical Therapy, Main Raiwind Road, Lahore 3 Head of Department/Assistant professor, Azra Naheed Medical College, Department of Physical Therapy, Main Raiwind Road, Lahore Abstract: Nurses regularly perform activities that are repetitive and include direct interaction with the patient. Such activities are the major cause of the work related musculoskeletal problems.A descriptive study was conducted among nurses in different hospitals of Lahore. Convenient sampling technique was used. Nordic questionnaire was distributed among 195 respondents to collect data. Data was analyzed through SPSS, Mean and standard deviation was calculated for quantitative variables while frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables.During last 12 months pain was experienced most frequently in low back (49.7%) followed by shoulder (35.4%) by the nurses. The least frequently involved region of pain was elbow (15.9%). Most of the participant respondents responded difficulty in performing any activities in last 12 months due to symptoms in lower back (45.6%), followed by neck (29.2%). Our study revealed that nurses while performing their activities face different types of musculoskeletal disorders due to their nature of profession. Most commonly involved regions were lumbo sacral region (low back pain), shoulder and neck. Keywords: Nurses, Low back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, Nordic questionnaire, Pain 1. Introduction 1.1. Overview Musculoskeletal problems are also correlated as work related musculoskeletal problem which happens after a work associated event. Work related problems are the main cause of work disability. Most common problems are low back pain, tenderness of the calf muscle pain in the knee and ankle as well in upper limbs and shoulder.[1] Nurses regularly perform activities that are repetitive severe, including direct interaction with the patient. Such activities are the major cause of the work relevant problems. Nurses are not well known about these problems. The purpose of this study is to check the incidence of musculoskeletal problems between nurses within one year.[2] Nurses have to face various risks at their job in which most common are biological risks ergonomic problems and work associated stress. There is some problem, including work related are present in all nurses. The nursing profession is a high risk profession for musculoskeletal disorders. The reason of the study is to check the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders between nurses working in a hospital.[3] Nurses in Korea experience back pain in 72% of cases musculoskeletal symptoms 7.2 reported in nurses who perform manual treatment of the patient. The frequency of back problems was 36% in the Netherlands and 63% in Cape Town. Physical variables which were the main reason of back pain in nurses lifting 65% working with abnormal posture 47% stooping 34% and poor posture in the ward 53%. Frequency of back pain in the intensive care unit was 84% and 64% of those nurses who are working in other wards this study has been done on 4077 nurses.[4] Previous study has been done in university of Ilorin teaching hospital in Nigeria Previous study was done within 454 health care workers included nurses and their assistants in Iran’s general hospital.[5] Davis and Kotowski et al., in 2015 designed a research on the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems in nurses. Work related musculoskeletal complaints have been investigated all over the world in professional nurses largely focused on lower back pain. The study showed us that nowadays new changes occurred in responsibilities of health care professionals for example weight bearing, mobility and home sickness care also provided by nurses so that shoulder and upper limb may largely affect.[6] 1.2. Objective To find out the frequency of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses working in hospitals of Lahore 1.3. Rationale This study will be helpful in identifying the musculoskeletal disorders among nurses and would thus be helpful in improving quality of life. Paper ID: NOV163242 346