Frequency of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Rickshaw Drivers of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

Although rickshaw, a mode of public transport, has existed in Rawalpindi for decades, little is known about its impacts on its drivers' health. Several factors lead to postural stress in rickshaw drivers that are likely to affect the musculoskeletal system and, consequently, musculoskeletal pain. Since rickshaw is an important way of public transit in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, a survey was conducted to investigate the frequency of musculoskeletal pain in rickshaw drivers. This was a cross-sectional study in which 284 rickshaw drivers were recruited from rickshaw stands and surrounding areas within Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 65 years and were required to be working as full or part-time rickshaw drivers at the time of data collection. Three characteristics, i.e., age, work experience, and driving hours per week, were obtained from these participants. A self-structured questionnaire was used to record the frequency of musculoskeletal pain. Of the 284 subjects of the study, 162 subjects reported musculoskeletal pain. The most commonly reported site of pain was back (64.81%), 32.71% reported knee pain,30.68% reported shoulder pain, 18.51% reported ankle pain, 14.19% reported neck pain, and the least reported anatomical site of pain was elbow (3.70%). The results showed that drivers who had been driving for more than ten years reported more musculoskeletal pain. Also, those who drove a rickshaw for more than 8 hours daily had similar complaints. We concluded that musculoskeletal pain is common among rickshaw drivers. Work experience and working hours also seem to be associated with musculoskeletal pain.