PREVALENCE OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IN STENO TYPISTS WORKING IN THE JUDICIARY OFFICE OF ISLAMABAD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/8h3rpc77Keywords:
Cross-sectional study, , Median nerve, Wrist, Musculoskeletal disorder, , functional status, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Occupational HealthAbstract
Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) caused by repetitive wrist motion, prolonged flexion, or sustained pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. It frequently affects professionals engaged in continuous computer use, leading to pain, numbness, and weakness of the hand. Steno-typists, due to their occupational typing demands, represent a high-risk group for developing CTS, yet local research on this population in Pakistan remains limited.
Objective: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among steno-typists working in the judiciary courts of Islamabad, Pakistan.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 steno-typists aged 30–55 years, all working a minimum of six hours daily in the judiciary courts. Participants were selected through non-probability convenient sampling. Data were collected using demographic information, manual diagnostic tests (Phalen’s test and Tinel’s sign), the Sheffield CTS Diagnostic Questionnaire (SCTSDQ), and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), which included the Boston Symptom Severity Scale (BSSS) and the Boston Functional Status Scale (BFSS). Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Board of Bashir Institute of Health Sciences, and informed consent was secured from all participants prior to data collection.
Results: Tinel’s sign was positive in 30 participants (50%), and Phalen’s test was positive in 27 participants (45%), with the highest prevalence in the 35–40-year age group. Based on the SCTSDQ, 8.3% had an unlikely indication, 43.3% a suggestive indication, and 48.3% a strong suggestive indication of CTS. Findings from the BCTQ revealed that 33.3% reported no symptoms, 50% mild symptoms, 15% moderate symptoms, and 1.7% severe symptoms, yielding an overall CTS symptom prevalence of 66.7%.
Conclusion: The study concluded that CTS is significantly prevalent among steno-typists in Islamabad’s judiciary sector, primarily due to repetitive typing and prolonged wrist strain. Preventive ergonomic interventions, regular screening, and awareness programs should be implemented to reduce occupational CTS risk.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Javeria Habib, Muhammad Faizan Khan, Muhammad Abdul Moiz, Muhammad Behzad Ali, Shahzaib Raza Shah, Fiza Rao, Maryam Akram, Uswa Ali, Iqra Khan (Author)
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