Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among police officers from an organizational unit of a German federal state police force

Occupational activities involving prolonged postures, restricted movements, and wearing heavy protective equipment contribute significantly to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in police officers. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of MSDs at an organizational unit of a German federal state police force in relation to self-reported causes of MSD. 255 (211 m/44 f) participants within the age from 21 to 57 years (28.29 ± 6.57 years) answered a modified version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) in nine different body areas (cervical spine/neck, thoracic spine, lower back/lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, hand and wrists, hip, knee, foot and ankles). For statistical analyses descriptive analyses, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Rasch model analyses were applied. Significance level was set at 5%. Of the 255 participants 95.7% engage in physical activity during their leisure time, with the vast majority (78.1%) also involved in occupational sports activities. The overall 12-month prevalence of MSD was 92.9%, while the most affected areas were the lower back (64%), followed by the neck/cervical spine (57.8%), shoulder (48.6%) and the thoracic spine (33%). The 7-day prevalence stands at 56.1%. The regions most commonly affected are similar to the 12-month prevalence: the neck/cervical spine with 25.1%, followed by the lower back (20.4%), the shoulder (13.7%), and the thoracic spine (11.8%). Only 7.1% reported no symptoms at all. 1.6% indicated experiencing discomfort in all body regions. The Rasch-derived musculoskeletal symptom score showed significant positive correlations with age (r = 0.17, p < 0.01), BMI (p < 0.01, rho = 0.19), and years of service (r = 0.20, p < 0.01). Participants most frequently attributed their musculoskeletal complaints to carrying heavy equipment, prolonged sitting, and awkward postures, followed by stress and insufficient recovery. Only a minority associated their symptoms with sports or physical training, suggesting that ergonomic and organizational factors are perceived as the primary contributors to MSDs. Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among German police officers, affecting nearly all participants despite a young mean age and high physical activity levels. The predominance of multi-site pain, particularly in the lower back, neck, and shoulders, highlights the cumulative impact of occupational load rather than isolated risk factors. Equipment-related load carriage, prolonged static postures, and organizational demands appear to be key drivers, while age, BMI, and years of service exert additional but modest influence. These findings underscore the need for early, occupation-specific preventive strategies that integrate ergonomic optimization, task organization, and targeted physical training to preserve work ability and operational readiness over the course of a policing career.