From Duty to Discomfort: A Systematic Review Unveiling the Current Landscape of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Among Police Officers
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Abstract
There are many occupational diseases and injuries including MSDs cases reported year by year globally. The cases are alarming, especially for police officers’ population which is exposed to many hazards. Furthermore, there are no ergonomics guidelines specially tailored for police officers. This review is meant to provide insight into the current trends of MSDs among police officers globally from the year 2018 to 2023. Materials and methods: Research paper was reviewed using PRISMA methods which is a guideline that useful to report systematic review transparently and comprehensively. Online databases such as Scopus and Google Scholar were used to choose articles relevant to this study. Results: The review found that risk factors associated with prevalence of MSDs are age, gender, BMI, duration of working, years of experiences, wearing mandatory equipment, prolonged sitting and standing, awkward posture and vibration. Meanwhile, the body part with the highest prevalence of MSDs is lower back, followed by lower extremities and neck and upper back. Overall police officers are exposed to many risks and hazards that lead to prevalence of MSDs. Conclusion: High prevalence of MSDs among police officers, highlighting risk factors such as age, gender, BMI, work duration, years of experience, mandatory equipment, and ergonomics issues. The lower back was identified as the most affected area. However, further investigation into different police tasks is needed to better understand these risk factors and implement proactive measures to reduce MSDs.
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