Frequency of Shoulder Pain and Its Association with Low Back Pain among Street Vendors

Abstract

Background: Street vendors are frequently exposed to prolonged standing, repetitive upper-limb movements, manual handling of heavy loads, and awkward working postures, which increase their risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly shoulder pain and low back pain. However, evidence regarding the association between these conditions among street vendors remains limited. Objective: To determine the frequency of shoulder pain and its association with low back pain among street vendors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 139 male fruit and vegetable street vendors from Gulberg and Iqbal Town using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Shoulder disability was assessed using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, while low back pain intensity was evaluated using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were reported as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The association between shoulder disability and low back pain was determined using the Chi-square test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean weight and height of participants were 62.29 ± 11.07 kg and 169.46 ± 11.26 cm, respectively. Moderate shoulder disability was observed in 40 (28.8%) participants, whereas 86 (61.9%) reported moderate low back pain. A statistically significant association was found between shoulder disability and low back pain (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Shoulder disability was significantly associated with low back pain among street vendors. Ergonomic interventions, early screening, and physiotherapy-based preventive strategies may help reduce musculoskeletal disability and improve occupational health in this vulnerable workforce.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, Low Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Occupational Health, Occupational Therapy, Shoulder Pain, Street Vendors, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders.