Musculoskeletal Disorders in Adolescent Students with Low Vision and Hearing Impairment

MusculoSkeletal Disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common problems of students which if not prevented and treated can lead to physical and psychosocial disorders.The aim of this study was to compare MSDs in two groups of students with special needs who suffering from low vision and hearing impairment.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with of 62 students aged between 10-15 years old in Hamadan in 2019-2020 . Of these participants, 32 students living with hearing impairment and 30 students living with low visions. Demographic questionnaires and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders were used to collect data. SPSS software version 23 was used to analyse data through two-sample independent t-test,  chi- square test and logestic regression.

Tottaly 62 students took part in the study. The mean age of Low Vision Students( LVS) and Hearing Impairment Students (HIS) was 12.101.47± and 12.47± 1.64 years respectively. Of all students with low vision 10 individual (33.3%) and of all students with hearing impaiement 10 individuals (31.3%)  were suffering from MSDs. The most MSD affected areas in HIS was lumbar (15.6%) and in LVS was shoulder (16.7%). The results showed that MSDs did not differ significantly between the two groups of LVS and HIS (P> 0.05).

This study showed that at least one-third of LVS and HIS suffered from MSDs.   The need for therapeutic and educational strategies in the field of ergonomics interventional program for health promoting  of these students with special needs should be considered.