Prevalencia de lesiones musculoesqueléticas en pacientes que asisten al Laboratorio de Fisioterapia de la Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are conditions that can arise as a result of various factors such as trauma, overuse, and repetitive movements. Objective: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in patients attending the physiotherapy laboratory at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. Methodology and materials: Quantitative approach, cross-sectional descriptive study, non-experimental type. A total of 216 patients with various musculoskeletal conditions. Results: The gender distribution was equal, with 48% male patients and 52% female patients. The adult population, particularly those aged 18 to 60 years, constituted the majority of the patients treated, accounting for 84%. Adults over 60 years old made up 11% of the patients. Additionally, 3% of the patients were adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, and the remaining 1% corresponded to children. Among the occupations, students represented the most represented group, accounting for 38%. 46.30% of the cases showed a moderate level of pain on the 4-6 scale. 44% of the patients did not engage in any physical activity. Among the musculoskeletal conditions, low back pain stood out as the most prevalent, accounting for 27% of the cases, followed by neck pain and cervical contracture with 17%, and tendonitis with 14%. Ankle sprain represented 13% of the recorded instances. Conclusions: These results highlight the need for prevention and treatment strategies tailored to different age groups, emphasizing the importance of promoting an active lifestyle.