Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Dec;4(3):e1100.
doi: 10.52225/narra.v4i3.1100. Epub 2024 Dec 11.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among information technology (IT) professionals: A systematic review

Tofan Ae Prasetya  1 , Abdullah Al Mamun  2 , Aisy Rahmania  3 , Mobashwer Ahmed  4 , Abu Sms Uddin  5 , Neffrety Nilamsari  1 , Ratnaningtyas Wk Wardani  1
Affiliations

Prevalence and associated risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among information technology (IT) professionals: A systematic review

Tofan Ae Prasetya et al. Narra J. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a growing concern among information technology (IT) professionals. Understanding the specific risk factors associated with MSDs among employers, occupational health practitioners, and IT professionals may reveal effective preventive measures. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and identify the risk factors associated with MSDs among IT professionals. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Online Library Wiley, Springer, Web of Science, and manual searches to identify relevant studies published between 2013 and 2023. The search strategy employed appropriate keywords related to IT professionals, musculoskeletal disorders, prevalence, and risk factors. Two reviewers independently assessed each article using PRISMA guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Data. Data extraction was performed, and a narrative synthesis was conducted to summarize the findings. Our search yielded a total of 1159 records, with 13 studies finally included in this review. The selected studies were from several countries and contained a total of 4632 participants. The prevalence of MSDs was reported with a maximum rate of 89% and a minimum rate of 20%, reflecting the overall percentage of affected individuals and including data on specific body areas affected. Identified risk factors from the selected studies include work duration, experience, sex, strenuous back positions, smoking, physical inactivity, MSD history, uncomfortable workstation setting, mental stress, insufficient sleep, body posture, exercise status, alcohol consumption, prolonged sitting, workspace, job demands, overexertion, breaks during work, and excessive usage of smartphones.

Keywords: IT professionals; Musculoskeletal disorders; ergonomics; injury prevention; occupational health.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram of the PRISMA guideline for the study selection.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Studies from different countries and the sample size distribution. F: female; M: male; n: total number.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Moreira S, Criado MB, Santos PC, et al. Occupational health: Physical activity, musculoskeletal symptoms and quality of life in computer workers: A narrative review. Healthcare (Basel) 2022;10(12):2457. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lin JH, Lee W, Smith CK, et al. Cleaning in the 21st Century: The musculoskeletal disorders associated with the centuries-old occupation – A literature review. Appl Ergon 2022;105:103839. - PubMed
    1. Cieza A, Causey K, Kamenov K, et al. Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet 2021;396(10267):2006–2017. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Putsa B, Jalayondeja W, Mekhora K, et al. Factors associated with reduced risk of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers: A cross-sectional study 2017 to 2020. BMC Public Health. 2022;22:1503. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Snodgrass SJ, Weerasekara I, Edwards S, et al. Relationships between the physical work environment, postures and musculoskeletal pain during COVID-19: A survey of frequent computer users. J Occup Environ Med 2022;64:E782–E791. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources