Prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Ergonomic Risk Assessment among Shopkeepers in Indian Rural Setup: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are a major occupational health issue that severely impacts quality of life through chronic pain and mobility limitations among grocery store workers and shopkeepers. Aim: To assess the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and risk factor assessment among shopkeepers in rural area. Study Setting: Rural area in India Study Design: Cross-sectional Methods and Materials: Total 165 participants were screened out of which 122 were satisfying the inclusion criteria, out of which 16 were not willing to participate, 6 participants failed to fill out the provided questionnaire hence data for 100 participants was procured and 43 participants did not meet the requirements for inclusion criteria hence excluded. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Marathi) was used to evaluate Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders. The REBA scale was utilized to assess risk factors. Statistical Analysis: The analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics. Microsoft Excel was utilized to compute the mean, standard deviations, and percentages. The data was then displayed in both tabular and graphical formats. Results: In terms of area-specific afflictions, the highest incidence of musculoskeletal disorders was observed in the lower back (76%) and the knee (40%). This was followed by the upper back, which showed a 30% incidence rate. The other joints were affected thereafter. The REBA scale indicated a score of 11, suggesting a high risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This underscores the need for implementing changes to mitigate this risk. Conclusion: The study concludes that work-related musculoskeletal disorders are notably prevalent among rural shopkeepers. The findings underscore the necessity for implementing changes to address this issue. Keywords: Shopkeepers, Work related musculoskeletal disorders, Ergonomics, Cross sectional study.