IMPACT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT USE ON MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS IN KARACHI: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background:

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are increasingly recognized as a public health concern associated with prolonged sitting, vibration exposure, and poor posture during daily commuting. In Karachi, physiotherapy students frequently depend on public transport where overcrowding, uneven road conditions, and sustained static posture exacerbate the condition.

Objective:

 To evaluate the effect of regular public transport use on different body regions among physiotherapy students using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire.

Methodology:

The research was done among 322 students of physiotherapy who were commuting using the public transport. The Open Epi was used to calculate the sample size. The data were gathered by using the extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and self-administered commuting survey. The SPSS version 27.0 was used to conduct the statistical analysis. The assistance of Chi-square test and Spearman correlation was used to identify the prevalence and assess the associations.

Results:

A total of 322 physiotherapy students who regularly used public transport participated in the study. The mean age was 21.9 ± 1.62 years. The sample consisted of 298 (92.5%) women and 24 (7.5%) men. Results indicated a high prevalence of MSDs with 72.7% of participants reporting lower back pain and 72.4 % reporting neck pain, followed by discomfort in the shoulders, upper back, and lower limbs. These findings indicate that axial and postural regions are most affected, likely due to prolonged sitting, non-ergonomic seating, and continuous vibration during commuting.

Experiencing issues during public transport use showed statistically significant positive correlations with the upper back (r = 0.192, p < 0.01), lower back (r = 0.175, p < 0.01), wrist (r = 0.173, p < 0.01), shoulder (r = 0.141, p < 0.05), and knee (r = 0.125, p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Among young physiotherapy students who use public transportation, the prevalence of MSD is particularly high in the axial and postural areas. These results highlight the necessity of ergonomic understanding and safer commuting environments to minimize musculoskeletal stress.