Dose-Response Association between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Physical Factors among Construction Workers

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a variety of inflammatory and degenerative diseases that affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves and related blood vessels. These contain syndromes like tendon inflammation and associated conditions (tenosynovitis, epicondylitis, and bursitis) that is most commonly seen in the construction workers with prolonged working hours. Objective: The purpose of the study was to find the dose-response association between MSDs & physical factors among construction workers and to determine the association between their pain severity and working duration. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of 317 construction workers. Workers were randomly selected from different areas of Multan. Nordic questionnaire and NPRS were the data collection tools along with the questionnaire derived from previous studies. Results: No significant association was found between the physical factors and MSDs. 49.6% workers experienced mild pain with working duration of 8 hrs. 8.3% workers whose work duration was 10 hours, experienced severe pain. Conclusion: Physical burden factors don’t have any strong predictor role in MSDs of different regions of body among construction workers. Working duration has significant association with pain severity.