Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort among medical students of University of Lahore, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the frequency and associated factors of nnusculoskeletal pain among medical students of University of Lahore. Methodology: This cross sectional survey was carried out among medical students exposed to clinical setting during five years and 173 students from 3rd and 4th year participated in the study. Study duration was December 2016 -March 2017. Data were collected by means of questionnaire survey using modified Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Results: Out of 173 students, 141(81.5%) reported musculoskeletal pain and among them 119(68.8%) had lower back pain in the last 12 months. About 99(57.2%) suffered from lower back pain in the last 7 days. Shoulder pain was noted by 86(49.7%) students in the last 12 months and by 63(36%) students in last 7 days. Furthermore, 100(42.2%) students in the last 12 months and 76(43.9%) students in the last 7 days had neck pain. 46 (26.6%) students had increase in musculoskeletal pain due to stress and work, 34(19.7%) due to prolonged standing or sitting; 28(16.2%) students noted increase in pain due to stress caused by exams. Conclusion: Frequency of musculoskeletal pain was high among medical students, with lower back pain being most common. Besides this, neck and shoulder were commonly affected areas. Stress, exams, work, long sitting and standing came to be the most common aggravating factors.