The Prevalence of Leg Pain among Female Hairdressers: A Case Study in Shiraz in 2010

The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is increasing worldwide. This survey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of leg pain among female hairdressers in Shiraz, Iran, in 2010. This is a descriptive-correlational study that was conducted on female hairdressers in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 239 hairdressers were selected by available sampling method. Data were collected by interview and a questionnaire regarding their age, body mass index, marital status, experience, total work time, positions during work (sitting and standing), daily exercise, types of shoes worn during work, and use of arch support. Also existence of pain in feet and legs was evaluated. We used descriptive statistics and Chi-square test to analyze the collected data. The statistical analyses were done by SPSS version 16. About 30.1% of subjects had a BMI lower than 18 and 56.1% of them were married. Also 38.9% of subjects had a total work time of more than 8 hours per day and 69.5% of them worked in the standing position. According to the results, 53.1% of the subjects worn ordinary sandals and only 8.4% of them used arch support. Majority of the subjects (70.7%) reported pain in their feet and legs. The result also revealed the significant correlation between pain prevalence and age, BMI, marital status, total work time per day, and type of shoes worn during the work. Also, married people reported pain more. According to the findings of this study, several factors are associated with discomforts in the legs and feet among hairdressers. Therefore, hairdressing training in correct work procedures and modifying work conditions such as designing a proper chair, reducing working hours, use of medical shoes and sandals can prevent the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in this occupational group.