Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Office Employees: Implications for Preventing Quality of Life Decline in Older Age

Introduction

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are among the leading causes of occupational disability and reduced quality of life during employment and retirement. With the increasing number of employees in office environments and the sedentary, repetitive nature of these jobs, epidemiological assessment of WMSDs has become increasingly important. Despite global advancements, no study in Iran has used specialized ergonomic software to assess office employees. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among office staff in an industrial sector using ergonomic analysis software developed by the International Ergonomics School (IES). This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design to address existing research gaps and to propose practical interventions for improving occupational health and reducing musculoskeletal risk in office environments.

Methods

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 to assess the prevalence of WMSDs among office employees. Data collection and analysis were performed using specialized ergonomic software developed by the International Ergonomics School under the supervision of Daniela Colombini. The software enables structured assessment and classification of musculoskeletal disorders in the upper and lower limbs as well as the spine. The study was carried out in a large industrial company in Tehran and targeted all office employees (approximately 700 individuals). From this population, 249 employees who met the inclusion criteria and provided written informed consent participated voluntarily. Inclusion criteria were: at least one year of full-time administrative work; a minimum of eight hours of office activity per day; no history of acute musculoskeletal injury in the past six months; absence of chronic musculoskeletal disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or diabetic neuropathy); no secondary occupation with high physical demands; not being pregnant; and no musculoskeletal surgery in the past year. Data were collected through structured interviews, with responses recorded directly in the ergonomic software, which is specifically designed for anamnestic and preliminary epidemiological assessments in occupational settings and is based on internationally validated methods such as EPM. Initially, 700 employees were invited to participate; 420 declined and 31 were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria or for personal reasons, resulting in 249 participants who completed the assessment. Analysis was purely descriptive, focusing on the prevalence and distribution patterns of symptoms. Results are presented as graphical outputs and frequency tables generated by the software; no inferential statistical tests were applied. The software provided detailed visualizations of WMSDs by body region, gender, and age group.

Results

Data from 249 office employees were analyzed. Although the youngest participant was 23 years old, the software is standardized for a broader age range (15 years and above) and generates final reports based on international age groupings; consequently, some tables included lower age bands, which was taken into account during interpretation. The highest frequency in both sexes was observed in the 36–55-year age group, while employees over 55 years represented a very small proportion of the sample, largely owing to national retirement regulations. Participants were predominantly male (75%), with females accounting for 25% of the sample. The mean age was 43.9 years for men and 38.1 years for women. Men had longer tenure at the current workplace (15.7 vs. 10.4 years) and greater overall work experience (19.2 vs. 13.2 years). Younger women (aged 15–35 years) constituted 40% of that age group, compared with 14% of men; in the 36–55 age group, men were more prevalent (85% vs. 60% for women).

The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was reported as “positive thresholds,” defined as the percentage of participants reporting clinical symptoms in each body region. Upper-limb disorders were more common among female employees, particularly in the 36–55 age group. Among men, upper-limb symptoms varied by age: younger men (15–35 years) primarily reported wrist and hand problems (7%), whereas middle-aged men (36–55 years) showed higher prevalence in the shoulder (5%) and elbow (4%), with a lower rate in the wrist and hand (2%). No positive thresholds were observed in men over 55 years. In women, shoulder pain in the 36–55 age group was most prevalent (16%), and other symptoms such as elbow problems, wrist/hand complaints, and nocturnal paresthesia also occurred mainly in this age group.

Comparisons between exposed and non-exposed participants indicated that shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand disorders were consistently higher among employees exposed to occupational risk factors in both sexes, whereas nocturnal paresthesia was more common in non-exposed groups. Regarding the spine, both men and women in the 36–55 age group reported high prevalence of neck and lower-back pain; both sexes also exhibited notable incidence of acute low-back pain and lumbar disc protrusion. Knee disorders were more frequent among women than men, with prevalence rates of 16% in women and 6.2% in men, compared with reference values of 11.1% and 8.82%, respectively.

Overall, the results indicate that musculoskeletal disorders were common among office employees, predominantly affecting the neck, shoulders, lower back, and knees, with notable variation by age, sex, and occupational exposure. These findings highlight the need for targeted ergonomic interventions to reduce the prevalence and impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in office settings.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate a considerable prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the surveyed office employees, primarily affecting the neck, shoulders, lower back, and knees. A high percentage of participants in the exposed group demonstrated positive thresholds in these regions. Comparisons with standard reference data for the non-exposed group (as incorporated into the software) revealed that the prevalence of disorders in the study population was notably higher. The differences were particularly pronounced for knee disorders in women and for neck and lower-back disorders in both sexes. These patterns may be attributed to factors such as prolonged sitting, repetitive movements, suboptimal workstation design, and low physical activity. Therefore, implementing active ergonomic programs including workstation redesign, training on proper posture, and the incorporation of short breaks and stretching exercises into the daily work routine  appears essential to reduce mechanical load and prevent symptom exacerbation. Overall, the findings underscore the necessity of preventive interventions in the daily work structure of office employee .This study highlights the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among office employees, with notable risks for the neck, shoulders, lower back, and knees. These patterns are closely associated with occupational factors such as prolonged sitting, repetitive tasks, and inadequate workstation design. The integration of ergonomic interventions and preventive strategies into daily work routines can help reduce these risks and may contribute to maintaining functional capacity and promoting healthier aging outcomes.

Footnotes

Ethical approval: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Prior to participation, all participants provided written informed consent after receiving adequate explanations regarding the study objectives, procedures, and potential risks. Data confidentiality was ensured through the removal of personal identifiers and anonymous coding at all stages of data collection and analysis. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran (Ethics Code: IR.UT.SPORT.REC.1403.115). Participants were informed that they could withdraw from the study at any stage without any consequences

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest in this study

Authors’ contribution: Vaghari,A;contributed to study conception and design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of results, and manuscript drafting. Ebrahimi, M contributed to study supervision, conceptualization, and critical revision of the manuscript. Both authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Funding: This research did not receive any financial support

Acknowledgments: The authors sincerely thank all employees of the participating company for their meticulous and honest cooperation in completing the questionnaires. Special thanks are extended to the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, for their academic and ethical support, and to Ms. Daniela Colombini and the International Ergonomics School (IES) for providing the specialized ergonomic software and valuable technical guidance. We also express our gratitude to the staff of the company’s Sports Department for their constructive cooperation and for facilitating the practical implementation of the field study