Medical students showed a moderate to high risk of musculoskeletal discomfort despite generally good posture across all academic years. Physical activity varied by year, with lower levels in second-year students, while posture, BMI, musculoskeletal risk, and quality of life did not differ by class. Poor posture and low physical activity independently predicted greater musculoskeletal discomfort, which was associated with reduced quality of life, particularly in pain and vitality. These results highlight the need for early ergonomic education and structured physical activity programs in medical training.
Kuculmez et al. (Sun,) studied this question.