Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among administrative workers at a teaching hospital in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal symptoms can affect workers’ quality of life and work productivity, leading to sick leave and company losses. OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among administrative workers at a hospital in the state of Espírito Santo, the most frequent complaints, and the associated personal and occupational factors. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study. Data were collected using an evaluation form with personal data and questions related to work conditions, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, which aims to identify musculoskeletal complaints in nine parts of the body, and the Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: Fifty participants were assessed, of whom 52% were women. The majority was aged 31 to 40 years. Approximately 92% of workers had some musculoskeletal complaint, and 6% had been on sick leave. Regarding pain location, the spine was the most commonly affected region, especially the lumbar spine, followed by the upper extremities (especially shoulders and fists/hands). Only 40% of workers had received ergonomic guidance, and 54% adhered to workplace exercise. In addition, 85% of those who received physical therapy reported pain improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Most administrative workers (92%) had complaints of musculoskeletal symptoms, predominantly in the lumbar spine.