300 Section - Profile of Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Primary-Level Rehab Center

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

SS

Shahina Sarker, MD

Assistant Professor
Savar Upuzilla health Complex
Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Objectives : Musculoskeletal disorders are major contributors to pain and disability worldwide, particularly in primary-care settings of low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, Upazila Health Complexes serve as the first contact point for MSK patients, yet limited data exist on their clinical profile. Understanding patient demographics and MSK patterns is essential for planning rehabilitation services. This study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics and distribution of MSK disorders among patients attending the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Savar Upazila Health Complex.

Design:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2023 among all patients presenting with MSK complaints to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient department. Consecutive sampling was used. As the study focused on profiling patients, no intervention or control group was included. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) to identify diagnostic and demographic patterns.

Results: A total of 3173 patients were evaluated; 1600 (50.4%) were female and 1573 (49.6%) male. The 31–40 years group was most represented (28.4%). The distribution of MSK disorders was as follows: mechanical back pain 1100 (34.7%), knee pain 536 (16.9%), shoulder disorders 393 (12.4%), neck pain 301 (9.5%), soft tissue rheumatism 245 (7.7%), heel pain 210 (6.6%), rheumatological conditions 193 (6.1%), and other disorders 195 (6.1%).

Conclusion:

MSK disorders constitute a major burden at the primary-care level, with back and knee pain accounting for over half of all visits. These findings highlight the need for early rehabilitation access, ergonomic awareness, and preventive strategies. Further studies should investigate risk factors and treatment outcomes to guide national rehabilitation planning.