Frequency of Musculoskeletal Pain and its Association with Forward Head Posture among Architecture Students in Lahore: A cross-sectional Study

Authors

  • Talha Ahmed Physiotherapist, University Institute of Physical Therapy (UIPT, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Sidra Syed Assistant Professor, University Institute of Physical Therapy (UIPT), University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Ahmed Jahanzab Physiotherapist, Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Alisha Akram Physiotherapist, University Institute of Physical Therapy (UIPT, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Maheera Khalid Physiotherapist, University Institute of Physical Therapy (UIPT, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Sana Saeed Physiotherapist, University Institute of Physical Therapy (UIPT, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53389/JRCRS.2023110312

Keywords:

Forward head posture, Musculoskeletal Pain, Neck pain, Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Architecture

Abstract

Background: Forward head posture has become very common in our society. Pain in the cervical and its surrounding areas results from the protrusion of the neck, which is related to increased spinal flexions due to overworking and their work environment.

Objective: To find the frequency of musculoskeletal pain and its association with forward head posture among architecture students in Lahore.

Methodology: It was cross-sectional study. The data was collected from architecture students due to forward head posture in Lahore from February 2022 to July 2022. 199 participants from 2nd to 5th year who had both acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain but no systemic disease was selected. Students between the age of 18-25 with more than 5 working hours were included. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used. Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale and ruler measurement method was used for data collection. The Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0) was used to analyze the data.

Results: Out of 199 students 168 with a prevalence of 84.4% were having musculoskeletal pain due to forward head posture. In which neck pain had the prevalence of 70.9%, shoulder 54.8%, upper back 52.8% and lower back 65.8%. The p-value (chi-square) was 0.000 < 0.05 showing that there is a significant association between forward head posture and musculoskeletal pain.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence and association of musculoskeletal pain due to forward head posture among architecture students due to the nature of their work in which they assume a forward head posture for many hours and still remain in that posture even when not working causing pain in the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back.

Keywords: Forward head posture, Cervical pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, Atlanto-Occipital Joint, Nordic Pain scale, Visual Analogue Scale.

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Published

2023-09-30

How to Cite

1.
Ahmed T, Syed S, Jahanzab A, Akram A, Khalid M, Saeed S. Frequency of Musculoskeletal Pain and its Association with Forward Head Posture among Architecture Students in Lahore: A cross-sectional Study . J Riphah Coll. Rehabili. sci. [Internet]. 2023Sep.30 [cited 2025Jul.18];11(03). Available from: https://journals.riphah.edu.pk/index.php/jrcrs/article/view/1607

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 03 (2023): JRCRS Volume 11 Issue 3

Section

Original Articles

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