Investigating the Association Between Waterpipe/ Cigarette Smoking and Incidence of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background: Tobacco smoking is an essential factor that affects people’s quality of life.Numerous studies have suggested that tobacco smoking has considerable harmful effects onthe musculoskeletal system. In addition, it has a high prevalence in Hormozgan Province,Iran. Accordingly, this research investigates the consumption of tobacco products and itsrelationship with the prevalence of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders in service workersof Bandar Abbas City, Iran.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive-analytical epidemiological study with crosssectional data. The population comprised ۳۵۱ urban service workers employed in BandarAbbas City, Iran. In the present research, musculoskeletal disorders over the past ۱۲ monthswere investigated using the Nordic questionnaire in each of the nine body parts.Results: The mean age of the participants was ۳۷.۶۶±۷.۹ years. More than half of the studiedpopulation (۵۲%) smoked tobacco, and all of them experienced more musculoskeletalproblems compared to the other group. Musculoskeletal disorders in tobacco smokers showeda significant difference in four parts of the body, including the elbow, lower back, hip, andknees, with P<۰.۰۵ when compared to individuals who did not smoke tobacco.Conclusion: Individuals who smoked tobacco experienced higher pain in their musclesand bones compared to the other group, which can arise from the adverse effects of tobaccoproducts on muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. Hence, suitable policies and plans arerequired to prevent and reduce tobacco consumption in the province, especially in occupationsthat are susceptible to musculoskeletal disorders.