Perceived Level of Stress among Patients Suffering from Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders in Bahawalpur

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal disorders cause lasting discomfort and hinder daily activities. The ongoing pain often raises stress levels. In turn, stress can worsen symptoms, creating a cycle of distress. Objective: The study objective was to assess the perceived level of stress among patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal disorders in Bahawalpur. Methods:  It was a cross-sectional study. Sample size was 350 patients suffering from chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Data was collected using convenient sampling technique from Out-patient Physical Therapy Department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi Hospital and private physiotherapy clinics of Bahawalpur. Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale were used as research tools. Results: The study results showed that 326 (93.1%) patients suffered from moderate to severe levels of perceived stress whereas 24 (6.9%) of them had mild stress due to their chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders. The Low back pain was prevalent 248 (70.9%) and most of the respondents were females 224 (64%). Conclusion: Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders had a higher prevalence of Perceived Stress. The majority of individuals having moderate to severe stress were females.