Investigation of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Pregnant Women Working in Education and Information Technology Sector during Homestay in COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have disrupted physical activity levels, leading to adverse health consequences and decreased motivation to exercise. Prolonged sitting, poor ergonomics, and limited physical activity trigger musculoskeletal disorders. Pregnant women must prioritize proper ergonomics, take regular breaks, and seek professional guidance. The present work has investigated the advent of musculoskeletal disorders during a homestay in COVID-19 by the help of Modified Oswestry Disability Index. An analysis was conducted to assess the statistical correlation between the age (26.03±1.52) of pregnant women during the final phase of the third trimester and the calculated musculoskeletal disorders, yielding a p-value of .365552; however, since the result is not significant at p < .05, it indicates the absence of a statistically significant relationship between maternal age and musculoskeletal disorders. The assessment of the statistical strength of the relationship between musculoskeletal disorder and body mass index (p<.00001), nature of occupation (p=.000024), and sitting hours (p=.000051), conducted at p < .05, revealed a robust statistically significant relationship between musculoskeletal disorder and the respective parameters.