Prevalence of Neck Pain and Disability Among Cashiers in Traditional Versus Digital Banking Settings in Lahore, Pakistan

Background: Neck pain is a common work-related musculoskeletal problem among banking professionals, particularly in occupations involving prolonged sitting, repetitive computer use, sustained neck posture, and limited postural variation. Cashiers working in traditional and digital banking settings may experience different ergonomic exposures, but comparative evidence from local banking environments remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of neck pain and neck-related functional disability among cashiers working in traditional versus digital banking settings in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 104 bank cashiers, including 52 participants from traditional banking settings and 52 from digital banking settings. Participants aged 20–60 years with at least six months of cashier work experience and a minimum work exposure of 30 hours per week were included. Neck pain severity was assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, while functional disability was measured using the Neck Disability Index. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and group comparisons. Results: Neck pain was reported by 84.6% of traditional banking cashiers and 94.2% of digital banking cashiers. Moderate-to-severe pain was present in 63.5% of traditional banking cashiers and 67.3% of digital banking cashiers. Any neck-related disability was reported by 67.3% of traditional banking cashiers and 73.1% of digital banking cashiers, while moderate-to-complete disability was higher among digital banking cashiers than traditional banking cashiers, 26.9% versus 13.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Neck pain and disability were frequent among cashiers in both banking settings, with a consistently higher observed burden among digital banking cashiers. These findings highlight the need for ergonomic workplace modification, scheduled breaks, posture education, and physiotherapy-led preventive strategies in banking environments.