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PREVELANCE OF NECK PAIN IN AUTO RICKSHAW DRIVERS IN LAHORE PAKISTAN

Atoofa Rasheed, Tayyaba Nisar, Irha Nasir, Samreen Fatima, Sidra Amanat, Sidra Shafique

Background: Neck pain represent largest category of work related illness worldwide. Variety of internal and external factors leads to postural stress in vehicle drivers that affects the functioning of musculoskeletal system. Vibration, studied extensively among various risk factors causing neck pain. This public health problem is very much neglected in developing countries. Magnitude of this problem is suspected to be high in some of the occupations like driving. Objective: The aim of this study was to find prevalence of neck pain among Auto- Rickshaw drivers in Lahore. Material And Methods: A sample of 200 Auto- Rickshaw Drivers from Lahore by using purposive sampling technique by direct personal investigation method of data collection. The research design was cross- sectional study. Results: All the participants included in this study were male only as per the inclusion criteria of the study. All the participants were auto rickshaw drivers. Age of the participants ranged from 20 years to 45 years. 2.5% of the participant’s report that the pain is the worst imaginable at the moment. 14% report that the pain is very severe at the moment.50% reported the pain was very mild at the moment29% reported about extra pain by lifting heavy weights. 18% reported that if weights are positioned conveniently lifting would be easy for them. 19% were unable to lift weights at all. 41.5% participant reported that they can do most of their usual work but after a limit it causes extra pain.16% reported they can hardly do their usual work. Moderate to slight headache with neck pain was reported by 36% participents.17% reported about severe headaches.29% and 25 % participants reported that they had fair to moderate difficulty in concentrating respectively. A great degree of difficulty concentrating was reported by 6% participants. Sleep greatly disturbed for up to 3-5 hours was reported by 23% participants. Mild to moderate disturbance in sleep was reported by 70% participants.60% reported that can’t drive as much as they want because of mild to moderate neck pain. 13% reported that face great deal of difficulty during and sometimes unable to drive at all.4.5% reported that they were unable to read at all due to severe pain. 25% reported that they can read easily but after a limit pain ceases them to do so. 16% reported that they can do their recreational activities without any pain. 29% reported that they had neck pain during most of (but not all) their recreational activities. 4% reported that they can’t do their recreational activities. Conclusions: Neck Pain is more prevalent in auto rickshaw drivers. Increasing age, work experience, maximum working hours per week, increased left shoulder to handle distance and greater driver’s seat vibrations are increasing the risk of neck pain. Restricted lower cabin space and reduced shoulder to handle distance on right side also increased the risk of neck pain. Keywords: Auto Rickshaw Drivers, Neck Pain, Musculoskeletal, Magnitude, Postural Stress, Headache.

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