Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Traffic Police in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Abstract

A significant increase in the population in the last few decades in Pakistan has made controlling vehicular traffic an extremely challenging duty for traffic police personnel. Consequently, traffic police personnel are at risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Therefore, the need to determine this risk is important. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs among traffic police officers. It was a cross-sectional survey conducted within the premises of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A questionnaire was distributed to 320 traffic police personnel. Active service traffic police having job experience of more than a year were included. Pregnant women and individuals with certain pathologies were excluded from the study to make the study bias-free. Data were collected using the convenient sampling technique. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was incorporated in the survey to determine the prevalence of WRMSDs among traffic police in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while questions related to occupation and demographic data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire. Most of the participants (70%) reported pain. This study reported low back (43%) as the most common region for pain, followed by the neck (31%), upper back (26%), shoulder(21%), knee(18%), ankle(13%), and wrist(7%). Traffic police have a high prevalence of WRMSDs. This study supports the need for ergonomic intervention at job sites and modifications in the fitness training of traffic police.