Prevalence and Impact of Musculoskeletal Pain among Female Beauty Service Workers in Ujjain City: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Introduction

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant public health concern globally, affecting millions of workers across various occupational sectors. The beauty service industry, which includes hairdressers, beauticians, and nail technicians, involves tasks that require repetitive movements, awkward postures, and prolonged periods of standing, all of which contribute to the development of MSDs. Female beauty service employees, in particular, are at a heightened risk due to the physically demanding nature of their work, coupled with the often-limited awareness and application of ergonomic principles in the workplace.¹

MSDs are defined as injuries or pain in the musculo-skeletal system, including the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and structures that support limbs, neck, and back. The prevalence of these disorders is especially high among workers engaged in tasks that involve repetitive motion, static postures, and handling of tools for extended durations.² In the beauty service industry, professionals frequently perform activities such as blow-drying hair, cutting, coloring, waxing, and providing facials, which involve sustained hand and wrist movements, awkward shoulder postures, and significant strain on the back. Over time, these repetitive activities can lead to chronic musculoskeletal pain, particularly in areas like the neck, shoulders, lower back, and wrists.³

Recent studies have underscored the high incidence of musculoskeletal pain among workers in service industries. For instance, a 2020 study in India reported that 64% of salon workers experienced chronic musculoskeletal pain, with the lower back being the most commonly affected region.⁴ Similarly, research from various countries confirmed that beauty service workers are particularly prone to MSDs, with one 2019 study highlighting that over 75% of hairdressers suffered from neck and shoulder pain due to their work environment.¹ Despite this high prevalence, there is limited data specifically focusing on musculoskeletal pain among female beauty service workers in India, particularly in smaller cities like Ujjain. The city of Ujjain, located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, has a growing beauty service sector, with an increasing number of women employed in salons and parlors. These workers often face long hours of work under suboptimal ergonomic conditions. Due to the lack of standardized ergonomic practices and limited access to health care, many female beauty service employees may not receive adequate guidance on how to prevent or manage MSDs. Consequently, musculoskeletal pain remains a significant yet underreported issue within this population.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among female beauty service workers in Ujjain city, as well as the factors contributing to its development. By understanding the extent of this problem and identifying the primary risk factors, this research seeks to provide insights that can guide future interventions and health policies targeting occupational health improvements in the beauty service industry. Furthermore, the findings will highlight the need for ergonomic training and health awareness programs to reduce the burden of MSDs in this vulnerable occupational group.

Materials and Methods

This study was a cross-sectional survey aimed at assessing the prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal pain among female beauty service workers in Ujjain city. A quantitative approach was employed using a structured questionnaire to gather data on demographic characteristics, prevalence, severity, and factors contributing to musculoskeletal pain. The study was conducted in Ujjain city, Madhya Pradesh, India, targeting female beauty service workers employed in various salons and beauty parlours across the city. A purposive sampling method was used to select salons based on their accessibility and willingness to participate in the study. A sample size of 50 female beauty service workers was selected for this survey, determined based on logistical feasibility and the typical workforce size in beauty service establishments in Ujjain city. Although a larger sample would provide more generalizable results, a sample of 50 was adequate for the exploratory nature of this study.

The inclusion criteria for participation were female workers currently employed in a beauty service role, such as hairdresser, beautician, or makeup artist, for at least six months, aged between 18 and 50 years, and willing to participate by providing informed consent. Workers with a history of musculoskeletal disorders unrelated to their occupational activities, those employed for less than six months, and those unable to complete the survey due to language barriers or communication difficulties were excluded.

A structured, self-administered questionnaire was deve-loped based on previously validated tools used in musculoskeletal disorder research. The questionnaire was divided into sections covering demographic information, including age, job role, years of experience, and daily working hours, prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, assessing body regions affected such as the neck, shoulders, back, wrists, and knees, along with pain duration and frequency and risk factors, including ergonomic practices, posture, repetitive movements, and work conditions.

The survey was conducted over a period of two weeks in July 2024. Prior to data collection, the study objectives were explained to salon owners and workers, and informed consent was obtained from each participant. The questionnaires were distributed to the participants, who were requested to complete them in the presence of a research assistant to address any queries. Data collected from the questionnaires were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 25. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the sample and the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in different body regions. Inferential statistics were used to examine the relationship between independent variables, such as age, years of experience, and working hours, and the prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal pain. Chi-square tests were conducted to identify significant associations between categorical variables, such as pain presence and years of experience. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Table 1 presents the demographic data of 50 partici-pants, highlighting key variables such as age, years of experience, job role, and work hours per day. Half of the participants were aged 25-34 years, with 50% having over three years of experience. Most participants worked as beauticians (70%) and worked between 5-8 hours daily (70%).

The most common areas affected are the lower back (70%), neck (60%), and shoulders (50%).

Risk factors like prolonged standing (80%) and repetitive movements (70%) are strongly associated with musculoskeletal pain. Poor posture (60%) is another notable factor, with significant P-values sugg-esting relevance.

This table illustrates how years of experience correlate with musculoskeletal pain. Those with over three years of experience have a higher prevalence of pain (16 out of 25). A P value of 0.05 indicates a significant correlation in this group.

Discussion

The findings of this study provide important insights into the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among beauty service workers in Ujjain city, India, and identify key risk factors associated with the pain. These results can be compared to recent studies conducted in similar occupational settings worldwide to understand the commonality of the problem and the variations that may arise due to differences in geographic locations, work environments, and job roles. The current study revealed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the lower back (70%), neck (60%), and shoulders (50%), among beauty service employees. These findings are in line with several other studies in the occupational health literature, which report that lower back pain is a common complaint among workers engaged in prolonged standing and repetitive tasks. A study conducted among Indian salon workers reported that 68% of the participants suffered from lower back pain, which is comparable to the 70% reported in this study.⁵ Similarly, in a study conducted in Uganda, the prevalence of lower back pain among salon workers was found to be 72%, slightly higher than the current study. The high prevalence of lower back pain is likely due to prolonged standing and awkward postures required in the profession, which aligns with the findings in this study that identified prolonged standing (80%) and poor ergonomics (60%) as significant risk factors.⁶ Neck pain was also commonly reported, affecting 60% of participants in this study. This is consistent with a study which showed that beauty service employees, especially those working as hairdressers, are prone to neck and shoulder pain due to awkward and sustained postures during haircutting, shampooing, and other tasks.⁷ A similar study in Brazil found that 58% of beauty professionals reported neck pain, comparable to the findings of this study.⁸ However, the prevalence of wrist/hand pain (30%) in this study is lower than what was reported in their study of hairdressers, where 45% of participants reported wrist/hand pain. The discrepa-ncy may be due to differences in the type of tasks performed by participants in both the studies. While hair-dressers perform repetitive hand movements, such as cutting and blow-drying, that place strain on the wrists, the current study also included beauticians, whose tasks may not involve as much repetitive wrist movements.⁹

The identification of prolonged standing (80%), repe-titive movements (70%), and poor ergonomics (60%) as significant risk factors for musculoskeletal pain in this study is consistent with findings from other research on occupational hazards in beauty service professions. The literature repeatedly highlights prolonged standing as a major contributor to musculoskeletal pain. A study conducted in Norway emphasized that prolonged standing significantly increases the risk of lower limb pain and lower back pain. In their research on salon workers, they reported that 75% of their study popu-lation identified prolonged standing as a major risk factor for musculoskeletal discomfort. This closely aligns with the current study’s finding of 80%, further supporting the notion that prolonged standing is a major occupational hazard in beauty service jobs.¹⁰ Repetitive movements were identified as a risk factor in 70% of participants in this study, which is consistent with the work of another study, which found a similar relationship between repetitive hand and arm movements and musculoskeletal pain in a diverse range of service industry workers, including hairdressers and beauticians. They observed that workers performing repetitive tasks are at a significantly higher risk of developing pain in the neck, shoulders, and wrists. In their study, 68% of participants engaged in repetitive movements reported musculoskeletal pain, which is consistent with the findings of the current study. This study identified poor ergonomics (60%) as another significant risk factor.¹¹ A study on ergonomic risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among service workers in France reported that poor posture and awkward working positions increased the risk of pain in the upper limbs and back. They found that 64% of workers experiencing poor ergonomics during tasks such as prolonged bending and awkward hand positions developed musculoskeletal discomfort, which is very close to the 60% reported in this study. This highlights the universal nature of ergonomic risk factors across different occupational environments and geographic locations.¹²

The current study also examined the correlation between years of experience and musculoskeletal pain, finding that workers with more than three years of experience reported a higher prevalence of pain (64%) compared to those with fewer years of experience. This finding is in line with a study on the association between work experience and musculoskeletal pain among hair-dressers. They found that pain was more prevalent among workers with longer years of experience, due to cumulative exposure to risk factors such as prolonged standing and repetitive movements over time. The study reported that workers with more than five years of experience had a 70% higher likelihood of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain, similar to the 64% reported in the current study for those with over three years of experience.13 Interestingly, a study in the Netherlands found a weaker correlation between years of experience and musculoskeletal pain, with only a 30% increase in risk for those with more than five years of experience. The authors attributed this lower rate to better ergonomic interventions and awareness programs that had been implemented in the region.14 This highlights the importance of ergonomic training and preventive measures, which could explain the differences between regions in the impact of years of experience on pain prevalence.

Conclusion

The results of this study are largely consistent with findings from recent research in similar occupational settings across different regions. The high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the lower back, neck, and shoulders, is a common issue for beauty service employees worldwide. Multiple studies consistently report prolonged standing, repetitive movements, and poor ergonomics as significant risk factors. The correlation between years of experience and pain prevalence suggests that long-term exposure to these occupational risks exacerbates the likelihood of developing chronic musculoskeletal pain. Differences in the prevalence of specific pain areas, such as wrist/hand pain, and the impact of work experience may be attributed to variations in job roles and the implementation of preventive measures, highlighting the need for targeted ergonomic interventions in the beauty service industry.

Funding

None