Association of Physical Activity with Musculoskeletal Discomfort among Final Year DPT Students in Peshawar

Abstract

Objective: Association of musculoskeletal discomfort with physical activity among final year DPT students in Peshawar

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on total of 167 final year DPT students in Peshawar was carried out from 1st April to 1st August, 2020 after ethical approval from the institutional review board (IRB) of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. After informed consent, two standard questionnaires were used i.e. international physical Activity Questionnaire-short form to assess the level of physical activity and standard Nordic questionnaire to find musculoskeletal discomforts.

Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical variables while mean and standard deviations were calculated for continues variables. Association of Physical activity with musculoskeletal discomfort was found through Chi square test.

Results: Our study results showed high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in final year DPT students that is 82.3%. Most commonly affected region was low back (43.3%). 48.9% students were in moderate level of physical activity. Through chi-square test, there were no association between physical activity and musculoskeletal pain.

Conclusion: In association of physical activity level with musculoskeletal discomfort none of the areas have P-value less than 0.05 so it means there was no association of physical activity with any of musculoskeletal discomfort during 12 months.

Key Words: Lack of Physical Activity, Musculoskeletal Pain, Physical Activity, Physical Inactivity.