The impact of sedentary behavior on musculoskeletal system during Covid-19 lockdown period among the people of Lahore.

Abstract

Background: Staying at home was proved to be one of the major coping strategies to avoid the spread of coronavirus disease and to reduce the rate of mortality and fatality. However, staying at home is the major coping strategy to avoid covid 19 spread but it also brings out many problems like social isolation, physical inactivity, behavioral changes and weight gain.

Objective: To assess the effect of sedentary behavior on musculoskeletal disorders during the Covid-19.

Methods: Cross-sectional study design was used. In this study, 170 participants with age between 18-65 were included. The standardized Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) was used to assess alterations of musculoskeletal pain. Sedentary behavior was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Data were analyzed in SPSS ver. 20.0.

Results: The mean of age of participants was 30.57 ± 13.95%. Out of 170 there were 114(67.1%) females and 56(32.9%) were males. Out of 170, 1(0.6%) had very severe joints pain, 19(11.2%) had fairly severe joints pain, 67(39.4%) had moderate joints pain whereas 28(16.5%) had no joint pain and stiffness overall during the day in the last 2 weeks. Out of 170, 74(43.5%) have low IPAQ score, 71(41.8%) had moderate IPAQ score and 25 (14.7%) have high IPAQ categorical score.

Conclusion: Maximum of subjects had musculoskeletal disorders in various regions of body whereas, neck and shoulder pain were the most prevalent during lockdown. Pain remained moderate in intensity and most of the participants had overall fair musculoskeletal health during lockdown.