Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Problems among Cobblers in Footwear Repairing Work

Cobbling or shoe-repairing is one of the aged old occupations belonging to unorganized sector. Majority of workers are dependent on this occupation for livelihood. The cobblers work in sitting position mainly on the busy routes with congested surroundings. The present study was conducted among 100 cobblers working in Uttarakhand State, India with an objective to find out the musculoskeletal pain or discomfort faced by them during their work. The data was collected using Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Results revealed that the cobblers suffered from pain or discomforts in different body regions especially lower back, neck and lower leg. Sitting with folded legs and continuous bending of neck during work were the major reasons of pain/discomfort. Various muscle relaxing exercises can help the cobblers to overcome the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Further, an ergonomic workstation design will help in improving their workplace wellbeing.