PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN AND

ASSOCIATED DISABILITY AMONG PROFESSIONAL BUS

DRIVERS IN CHIDAMBARAM

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION :
Professional bus drivers form a major occupational group in worldwide. It requires
them to operate and drive buses over longer period of time. Higher rates of WRMSD are
reported in driving occupation.

Driving occupation involves bus drivers to use repetitive muscular efforts to

perform various occupational tasks such as steering, changing gears, applying breaks
continuously and repeatedly. Often the bus drivers work for longer shift hour resulting in
continuous work without any rest.

Bus drivers are exposed to challenge physical working condition such as prolonged
seated posture, awkward sitting positions, noise, temperature and whole body vibrations
contributes to increase physical loading to the musculoskeletal system

Prolonged sitting and continuous vibration induces increased loading on

intervertebral disc, compressive force on vertebral disc, creep in lumbar soft tissues and
back muscles fatigue. Sustained musucular effort on cervical region as well as larger joints
such as shoulder, hip knee, may stress the musculoskeletal system.

All of these mechanism would be the reason for bus drivers developing
musculoskeletal pain at their working place…

Objective
1. To determine the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal pain in professional bus drivers

2. To determine the disability among professional bus drivers

Need for study:

The recent literatures indicates that bus drivers are one of the top three occupation
prone to have musculoskeletal disorders with highest incidence rates. Work related
Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD) among bus drivers was defined by musculoskeletal pain
(MSP) in professional working environment leads to significant discomfort with disability
and hospitalization. Musculoskeletal health of bus drivers remains as a challenge for
occupational health clinicians and policy makers to develop any rehabilitation program to
support the health and welfare of bus drivers. It emphasize to evaluate the musculoskeletal
pain among bus drivers. So that effective treatment program can be implemented to them.

METHODOLOGY

Study design:
Cross-sectional study

Sample Method:
Sample size-100 subjects of professional bus driving

Study setting:

Chidambaram Bus Depot.

Inclusion criteria :
 Age between 30-60years
 Male driver are selected
 Minimum of 5 years driving experience
 Permanent employee with standard full time working hours
 Subject who are willing to participate

Exclusion criteria :
 Any recent traumatic injuries in bus drivers
 Chronic medical illness
 Any history of surgery

Procedure:
A Cross sectional study will be conducted among 100 professional bus drivers. The
procedure will be clearly explained to them and get consent from them. The prevalence rate
of musculoskeletal pain(MSP) will be evaluated using a standardized Nordic musculoskeletal
questionnaire. The disability due to musculoskeletal pain(MSP) will be evaluated using neck
disability index(NDI),oswestry disability index(ODI).After collecting the data, statistical
analysis will be follow.

Outcome tools:
  Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire
 Neck disability index
 Oswestry disability index

PROFORMA

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

DATE:
1.NAME :

2.AGE :

3.HEIGHT :

4.WEIGHT :

5.YEARS OF DRIVING :

6.WORK SETTING :

7.CONTACT NUMBER :

8.ADDRESS :