EFFECT OF ALTERED BODY COMPOSITION ON MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) leads to loss of work efficiency which could have a negative effect on productivity as well as the quality of life. Excess fat in relation to lean body mass, known as altered body composition, can greatly increase the risks of MSDs. A significant positive relationship does exist between the probability of having MSD and altered body composition. A cross-sectional study with 108 medical practitioners was performed that comprised females (19.4%) and males (80.6%) to ascertain the body composition of medical practitioners to assess if they have an altered body composition and if it did indeed be associated with MSDs. The measures obtained were Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The results revealed the overall prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was high (80.55%) with low back, neck and ankles/feet to be the most commonly affected body parts. The male participants prone to MSDs have a higher fat percentage (86.11%), BMI (66.66%) and WHR (87.5%). Similarly, the female participants having higher fat percentage (100%), BMI (53.33%) and WHR (66.66%), showed increased incidences of MSDs. Future studies may be undertaken to determine other ergonomic domains as precipitating factors for the etiology of MSDs in medical practitioners to set priorities, preventive strategies, and interventions in the attenuation of MSDs.

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