Pervasiveness of orthopedic disorders among office and manual workers: a comparative study

Authors

  • Amira E. M. Abd El Hay Assistant professor of physical therapy, Rehabilitation sciences Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al al-BAYT University, El Mafraq, Jordon
  • Mohamed S. Zidan Assistant professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan ,Amman, Jordan https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8464-4547
  • Doaa Tammam Atia Associate professor at the department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Suez University, Suez, Egypt. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5424-0964
  • Nader Elsayed Assistant professor of physical therapy for orthopedic and orthopedic surgery Ahram Canadian university ACU
  • Walaa Swar Lecturer in department of physical therapy for women’s health, faculty of physical therapy, Suez university https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3754-960X
  • Lamyaa Fergany Lecturer Department of physical therapy for neurological and neurosurgical disorders, Faculty of physical therapy, Lotus University, Al Minya, Egypt
  • Emad Makram Ghattas Assistant professor of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders, Department of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders, faculty of physical therapy, Suez canal university, ismailia governorate, Egypt
  • Mai Mousa Lecturer of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v75.118105

Keywords:

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Nordic Questionnaire, WinOWAS, physiotherapists

Abstract

Background: Employees and Manual Workers often complain from awkward postures daily with exhausting way due to the lake of the number of employees especially in Governmental universities.

Objective: To study the relationship between MSDs and work-related postures of physiotherapists staff and Manual Workers Employees in physical therapy Faculty of Suez University, Egypt.

Methods: Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to survey the physical therapists’ musculoskeletal disorders, also Ovako Working Posture Assessment System (OWAS) was applied to evaluate, analyze and categorize the repeated work postures in 100 physiotherapists staff and Manual Workers. OWAS method was processed using WinOWAS software, involving 16 work postures. The collected data statistically analyzed using Excel and SPSS.

Results: NMQ indicated that 61% and 79 of physiotherapists staff and Manual Workers Employees, respectively complained MSDs in at least in one of the body parts during last year. The most common orthopedic disorders were lower back pain (73%), neck (69%) and shoulder pain (60%). Results of OWAS classified 7 postures (44%) in category 1 with 64 frequencies, 6 postures (38%) categorized 2 with 30 frequencies and 3 postures (19%) categorized 3 with 6 frequencies.

Conclusion: The major pervasiveness pains were in the lower back among physiotherapists staff and neck among Manual Workers Employees. OWAS work posture 4222 (category 3) were highly significant with lower back MSDs and partially correlated with neck MSDs. Also, work posture 2221 and 2222 (category 2) were significantly correlated with lower back and neck MSDs.

Author Biographies

  • Mohamed S. Zidan, Assistant professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan ,Amman, Jordan

    Dr. Mohamed S. Zidan

    Assistant professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan ,Amman, Jordan. drmohzidan2015@gmail.com

     ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8464-4547

  • Doaa Tammam Atia, Associate professor at the department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.

    Doaa Tammam Atia

    Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Suez University, Suez, Egypt.

    Doaa.tammam@the.suezuni.edu.eg

    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5424-0964

  • Nader Elsayed, Assistant professor of physical therapy for orthopedic and orthopedic surgery Ahram Canadian university ACU

    Nader ibrahim elsayed

    Assistant professor of physical therapy for orthopedic and orthopedic surgery

    Ahram Canadian university ACU

    nader.ibrahim@acu.edu.eg

  • Walaa Swar, Lecturer in department of physical therapy for women’s health, faculty of physical therapy, Suez university

    Walaa khamis Mohammed swar

    Lecturer in department of physical therapy for women’s health, faculty of physical therapy, Suez university

    Walaa.swar@the.Suzuni.edu.eg

    https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3754-960X

  • Lamyaa Fergany, Lecturer Department of physical therapy for neurological and neurosurgical disorders, Faculty of physical therapy, Lotus University, Al Minya, Egypt

    Lamyaa Ahmed Fergany

    Lecturer Department of physical therapy for neurological and neurosurgical disorders, Faculty of physical therapy, Lotus University, Al Minya, Egypt

    lamyaa.fergany@lum.edu.eg

  • Emad Makram Ghattas, Assistant professor of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders, Department of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders, faculty of physical therapy, Suez canal university, ismailia governorate, Egypt

    Emad makram ghattas

    Assistant professor of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders,

    Department of physical therapy for surgery and burn and integumentary disorders, faculty of physical therapy, Suez canal university, ismailia governorate, Egypt

  • Mai Mousa, Lecturer of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.

    Mai E. Mousa

    Lecturer of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy for Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.

    Mai_Ezzat@pt.kfs.edu.eg

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Published

02-02-2026

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Vol. 75 (2026)

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Original Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Amira E. M. Abd El Hay, Mohamed S. Zidan, Doaa Tammam Atia, Nader Elsayed, Walaa Swar, Lamyaa Fergany, Emad Makram Ghattas, Mai Mousa

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How to Cite

E. M. Abd El Hay, A., Zidan, M. S., Atia, D. T., Elsayed, N., Swar, W., Fergany, L., Ghattas, E. M., & Mousa, M. (2026). Pervasiveness of orthopedic disorders among office and manual workers: a comparative study. Retos, 75, 835-858. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v75.118105