Patient-friendly summary
If you read nothing else
Bottom line
Early, descriptive evidence suggests musculoskeletal pain (especially neck, low back, and shoulder) was commonly reported and may have increased among people working from home during the pandemic, but the small, heterogeneous studies cannot prove cause and warrant cautious interpretation.
Preliminary evidencePublished
Evidence hierarchy
Study participants
Adult workers in work-from-home setups during the COVID-19 pandemic, including many academics/teachers
Study Summary
This rapid review examined the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms reported among adults forced to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Six observational studies (five cross-sectional, one case-control) from Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines were included, covering 1,720 work-from-home participants out of 2,835 total. The highest reported prevalences were for neck pain (20.3-76.9%), low back pain (19.5-74.1%), and shoulder pain (3.0-72.9%), with the academic sector among the more commonly affected professions. The authors conclude there is initial evidence that musculoskeletal pain prevalence may have increased during pandemic lockdowns, but they emphasize wide prevalence ranges, clinical heterogeneity, and the limitations of rapid-review methodology, urging cautious interpretation.
Key Findings
| Finding | Detail | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Neck, low back, and shoulder pain were the most commonly reported sites | Across the six included studies, the highest prevalences were neck pain (20.3-76.9%), low back pain (19.5-74.1%), and shoulder pain (3.0-72.9%); elbow pain had the lowest prevalence (1.3-17.6%). Nine body regions were assessed in all six articles. | High |
| Prevalence appeared higher than pre-pandemic estimates | The review noted pre-pandemic prevalence estimates of roughly 16.2% for neck pain and 11.9% for low back pain, versus 20.3-76.9% and 19.5-74.1% respectively during initial quarantine, which the authors describe as roughly a 20-30% increase. The authors frame this as initial evidence requiring cautious interpretation, not proof of causation. | Medium |
| Work-related factors were correlated with musculoskeletal pain | Three studies reported associations: musculoskeletal pain correlated with workstation ergonomic suitability; back pain correlated with time spent sitting, weekly frequency of physical inactivity, and perceived pandemic-related stress; low back pain correlated with disabling effects on daily activities and fear of movement; neck pain correlated with disabling effects on daily activities. | Medium |
| Pre- vs post-pandemic comparisons suggested intensified pain | One study reported significantly higher lower back pain among those working from home (73%) versus those continuing status quo (35%) during quarantine; another reported low back pain rising from 38.8% pre-pandemic to 43.8% during quarantine (p = 0.001). The authors state pain severity significantly intensified among those who worked from home. | Medium |
| The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was the most common measurement tool | It was used in three of the six studies; others used the Numerical Rating Scale, a COVID-19 and Back Pain Questionnaire, and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire. All instruments were administered electronically. | Low |
| The academic sector was among the more commonly affected professions | Occupations varied (professionals, self-employed, students, housewives, retired individuals), but individuals working in academia (teachers, academics) were the more commonly observed group, indicated in studies covering this population. | Low |
Across the six included studies, the highest prevalences were neck pain (20.3-76.9%), low back pain (19.5-74.1%), and shoulder pain (3.0-72.9%); elbow pain had the lowest prevalence (1.3-17.6%). Nine body regions were assessed in all six articles.
The review noted pre-pandemic prevalence estimates of roughly 16.2% for neck pain and 11.9% for low back pain, versus 20.3-76.9% and 19.5-74.1% respectively during initial quarantine, which the authors describe as roughly a 20-30% increase. The authors frame this as initial evidence requiring cautious interpretation, not proof of causation.
Three studies reported associations: musculoskeletal pain correlated with workstation ergonomic suitability; back pain correlated with time spent sitting, weekly frequency of physical inactivity, and perceived pandemic-related stress; low back pain correlated with disabling effects on daily activities and fear of movement; neck pain correlated with disabling effects on daily activities.
One study reported significantly higher lower back pain among those working from home (73%) versus those continuing status quo (35%) during quarantine; another reported low back pain rising from 38.8% pre-pandemic to 43.8% during quarantine (p = 0.001). The authors state pain severity significantly intensified among those who worked from home.
It was used in three of the six studies; others used the Numerical Rating Scale, a COVID-19 and Back Pain Questionnaire, and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire. All instruments were administered electronically.
Occupations varied (professionals, self-employed, students, housewives, retired individuals), but individuals working in academia (teachers, academics) were the more commonly observed group, indicated in studies covering this population.
Strengths
- Prospectively registered protocol (OSF and PROSPERO) with PRISMA-informed reporting and use of WHO rapid-review guidance plus the STARR Decision Tool
- Two independent reviewers conducted searching, appraisal, and extraction with consensus adjudication, using standardized JBI-MAStARI instruments
- Formal risk-of-bias assessment reported (scores 4-9 of 9, mean 6.0) and transparent about methodological limitations
- Addresses a timely and under-reviewed occupational/ergonomic gap during the pandemic
Limitations
- Only six small observational studies were included (five cross-sectional, one case-control), all relying on self-reported, electronically administered questionnaires
- Wide prevalence ranges and clinical heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis; findings are descriptive and not generalizable
- Included studies largely used convenience and snowball sampling, and four were judged to have inappropriate recruitment
- No grey-literature search and a search window ending August 2021 limited the scope of evidence
- The review reports associations and prevalence, not causation; it cannot establish that working from home caused the increased pain
- Data on the type, duration, and frequency of sitting breaks were not available in included studies, and direct work-from-home versus onsite comparisons were limited
Key Takeaways for Patients
What This Means for You
- 01People working from home during COVID-19 lockdowns most often reported pain in the neck, lower back, and shoulders.
- 02Prolonged sitting, physical inactivity, an unsuitable workstation setup, and pandemic-related stress were linked with more musculoskeletal pain in some studies.
- 03Reported pain levels appeared higher than pre-pandemic estimates, though the studies varied widely and this review cannot prove that working from home caused the pain.
- 04Setting up an ergonomic workspace, taking active breaks that involve changing posture, and staying physically active may help, and the authors suggest workplaces address both ergonomics and mental health.
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