Introduction and Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning may adversely affect students' musculoskeletal health and physical activity levels. This study aimed to investigate the impact of online education and prolonged sitting on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and physical activity among university students.
Methods: In this descriptive study, 440 male and female students from Farhangian University, Yazd Branch, were selected as the sample. Standard Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and Beck Physical Activity Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using McNemar, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman’s correlation tests at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of MSDs during the pandemic showed a significant increase compared to the pre-pandemic period (p<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between reduced physical activity and increased MSDs (p<0.05). Students who did not follow proper sitting postures had significant disorders in the neck (p<0.0001), shoulder (p=0.006), wrist (p=0.002), lower back (p=0.001), hip (p=0.01), and knee (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that quarantine conditions and virtual learning may exacerbate musculoskeletal problems and sedentary behavior among students. Promoting ergonomic practices and physical activity during pandemics is crucial.
