Musculoskeletal disorders associated with telework in peruvian lawyers: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders are a contributing factor to the development of low back pain, leading to certain limitations in daily life. Teleworking has led to the emergence of musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s disease, and lumbosciatica. The objective of this study is to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders in Peruvian lawyers who telework. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the Kuorinka Nordic Questionnaire. The population consisted of 156 lawyers, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Descriptive statistics were applied using frequency and percentage. Among the 156 Peruvian lawyers studied, it was found that 46.2% belonged to the 30 to 39 age group; 62.2% were women; 80.8% resided in the capital, Lima; 81.4% had a bachelor’s degree; 54.5% teleworked for 7 to 8 hours a day; and 62.2% worked 5 to 7 days a week. Lawyers reported discomfort lasting less than 1 hour in the neck (57.1%) and shoulders (51.3%). Additionally, the duration of discomfort was 40.4% in the neck, 60.3% in the shoulders, 51.3% in the elbow or forearm, and 59% in the wrist or hand. Therefore, it is concluded that teleworking, although novel, requires training to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.