Musculoskeletal Pain in Unsupervised Gym-Goers: Prevalence and Anatomical Distribution

Regular exercise provides important physical and psychological health benefits; however, inappropriate exercise technique, excessive loading, overtraining, and inadequate supervision may contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and anatomical distribution of musculoskeletal pain among gym-goers who exercised without personal trainer supervision. An observational study was conducted among 100 gym-going individuals aged 18?30 years. Participants had exercised for at least 6 months and regularly exercised 4-5 days per week for 45 minutes or more. Individuals with neurological conditions, recent musculoskeletal injuries, or inflammatory conditions were excluded. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as frequencies and percentages. Of the 100 participants, 92% reported musculoskeletal pain in at least one body region. The most frequently reported sites were the lower back (36%), shoulder (24%), upper back (22%), and neck (21%), followed by the knee (13%), wrist/hand (12%), ankle/foot (7%), and elbow (6%). The

Findings: indicate a high prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal pain among gym-goers exercising without trainer supervision and highlight the importance of appropriate exercise technique, progressive loading, and injury-prevention education.