Association between prolonged sitting and musculoskeletal disorders among university students in Faculty of Medicine and Health Science University Putra Malaysia

Wan Azlan, Wan Muhammad Fahim (2023) Association between prolonged sitting and musculoskeletal disorders among university students in Faculty of Medicine and Health Science University Putra Malaysia. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

Text 200649 WAN MUHAMMAD FAHIM lp FPSK4 2023 16.pdf Download (2MB)

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) can be defined as injuries or disorders which can give effects on the muscles, tendons, joints, nerves, cartilage, and upper and lower limbs, neck, and lower back that act as supporting structures. Most students are required to stay seated for long hours in front of a computer, maintaining the body in an upright position which requires considerable and involves lots of muscular effort because of online class during the Covid-19 pandemic. MSDs may pose a significant danger to annual illness and injury costs, as well as lost productivity. Poor rest and recovery because of the amount of classes effect students as fatigue outruns the student recovery system, causing a musculoskeletal imbalance which increase the risk for students to develop MSDs. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders symptoms among university student due to prolonged sitting during Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology: A comparative cross sectional study design was conducted from September 5 to November 15 at Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Faculty students from Medicine & Nursing (MN) and Health Sciences (HS) courses aged between 22-24 are eligible to participate. They were given a set of questionnaires with two sections, (1) socio-demographic characteristics (2) Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). Results: There are significant different in the Musculoskeletal symptoms for Medicine & Nursing (MN) group and Health Science (HS) group as followed: neck (X2= 16.234, p < 0.001), shoulder (X2= 26.602, p <0.001), upper back (X2= 39.385, p <0.001), hips (X2= 4.401, p-value = 0.036), knees (X2= 26.404, p <0.001) and ankles (X2= 16.609, p <0.001). The MSD symptoms for the HS are different compared to the MN as most of the HS students have MSD symptoms at the upper skeletal while for the MN at the lower skeletal. The study also found out that there is significant relationship between prolonged sitting and MSDs symptoms at neck (X2=17.561, p<0.001), shoulder (X2=24.949, p<0.001), upper back (X2=42.232, p<0.001), lower back (X2=6.120, p-value = 0.041), hips (X2=4.401, p-value= 0.036). Conclusion: The study found that prolonged sitting is significantly associated with MSD symptoms at upper skeletal and part of lower skeletal. Because of this, intervention such as rest breaks and exercise regularly could be done to treat MSDs among students. Keywords:musculoskeletal disorders, prolonged sitting, medicine, health science

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	05 Apr 2024 04:06
Last Modified:	05 Apr 2024 04:06
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1684

Actions (login required)

View Item