Association between Musculoskeletal Pain and Studying Hours among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Musculoskeletal pain (MSP), which has an adverse effect on general health and academic performance, is a prevalent problem among medical students. This study aims to determine the prevalence of MSP and related risk factors among Saudi Arabian medical students.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 405 Saudi medical students. An anonymous, self-administered electronic questionnaire was disseminated through social media platforms was used to gather data. The survey comprised questions about study habits, demographics, and specific MSP experiences in different body regions during the previous 7 days and 12 months. A statistical analysis was conducted in find meaningful correlations between MSP and different risk factors.

The findings showed that medical students had a high prevalence of MSP, with 40.74% reporting neck pain in the previous week and 41.98% over the previous year. In addition, 40.00% of students acknowledged experiencing lower back pain in the previous week, and 39.51% reported experiencing it in the previous year. 34.07% of students stated they had experienced shoulder pain in the previous year while only 33.33% in the previous week. Longer study sessions may lead to higher MSP, as significant associations were found between study hours and MSP in the shoulders, hips/thighs, and wrists/hands.

MSP is very common among medical students in Saudi Arabia, especially in relation to lower back and neck pain. The study emphasizes the need for focused interventions, such as improved posture and encouraging regular physical activity, to lower MSP. Improving MSP is crucial for improving medical students' academic achievement and quality of life.