Mapping the Risk: Musculoskeletal Disorders Across Seven Occupational Groups in Adolescents and Young Adults

Musculo Skeletal Disorders in adolescents and young adults are a public health problem that grows in size and is not adequately quantified and reported, and it continues to be a concern during the transition from school-to-work. Although research on work-related MSDs has increased over the years, much of the evidence is limited to specific occupational populations and the extent to which adolescents who attend school are studied is relatively small compared to other groups, with little research conducted on cross-sectoral patterns. This paper introduces the knowledge gaps and methodological framework created for a postdoctoral epidemiological study of MSD prevalence, severity, and risk factors for MSD in seven occupational and educational groups: students; office/IT workers; healthcare workers; manufacturing workers; retail workers; delivery/logistics workers; and gig/platform workers, aged 13 to 35 years. Based on the existing literature there are five gaps identified: Fragmentation of evidence across sectors, limited representation of adolescent voices, weak triangulation of standardized assessment tools, thin regional (India-specific) evidence base and weak linkages between prevalence research and actionable, technology-enabled adolescent prevention. A cross-sectional comparative survey design is suggested, using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure prevalence, pain intensity and functional disability, respectively. The strategy for sampling, the way data will be collected, and the statistical analyses of the data that will be conducted are outlined in the paper, along with the expected contribution of the study to a validated, cross-occupational risk profile for MSD that could be used to inform future mHealth-based ergonomic interventions.