Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders during and after Driving among Suburban Truck Trailer Drivers in Taybad, Iran, in 2016

• Main Authors: Nasser Mohammad Rahimi, Nader Rahnama, Gholam Rasul Mohammad Rahimi
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2017-09-01
• Series: تحقیقات سلامت در جامعه
• Subjects: Driving ergonomics questionnaire; Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal discomfort; Truck drivers
• Online Access: http://jhc.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4492-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1

Introduction and purpose: Musculoskeletal pain is a prevalent problem among the drivers. According to the literature, musculoskeletal disorders and  back pain are among the main causes of road accidents. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort during and after driving among the truck trailer drivers in Taybad, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, in 2016. Methods: This descriptive-analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 truck drivers in Taybad. The study population was selected using simple random sampling technique. After providing the drivers with training, they determined the discomfort rate in different parts of their body on the Body Discomfort Chart (BDC). In addition, the Driving Ergonomic Questionnaire and Body Part Discomfort Map were used to examine the pain and discomfort rates in different areas of the body during driving in the last month. Data analysis was performed using the descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21.Results: According to the results, the lower back part (during driving: 54.42% vs. after driving: 27.76%) and neck (during driving: 44.43% vs. after driving: 58.86%) had the highest prevalence of disorders during and after driving in all three intensities. Conclusion: As the findings of the present study indicated, long sitting behind the steering wheel throughout the day can be a reason for musculoskeletal discomforts in the trailer truck drivers. Regarding the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, drivers need to take corrective measures with the priorities of  educational programs.