Under the supervision of Dr. Vaneet Kumar (PT), Chandigarh University Allied healthcare students dedicate themselves to learning how to heal, support, and improve the lives of others. Yet, in the middle of lectures, clinical postings, assignments, and endless practical sessions, many quietly ignore their own health.
Long study hours, poor posture, prolonged screen time, heavy backpacks, and repetitive clinical activities are increasingly leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) among students.
Neck pain, lower back pain, shoulder discomfort, and wrist strain have become common companions of academic life. What is concerning is that many students consider this pain “normal.” They continue working through discomfort without realizing that small daily habits can gradually affect their longterm physical health.
I am currently conducting a study titled “Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Knowledge and Behavioural Perception of Ergonomics among Allied Healthcare Students” to understand how common these problems are and how awareness about ergonomics can help students protect themselves.
In today’s fast-moving academic environment, students spend hours sitting with laptops and mobile phones, often forgetting the importance of posture, movement, and rest. Although healthcare students study anatomy and body mechanics academically, these principles are not always practiced in daily life.
But change begins with awareness. Simple habits such as sitting correctly, stretching regularly, taking short movement breaks, and maintaining ergonomic study setups can make a remarkable difference. Caring for one’s own body is not a sign of weakness it is the foundation of becoming a better healthcare professional. Future healthcare workers inspire others to live healthier lives. That journey should begin with themselves. Because when healthcare students learn to protect their own health, they build not only stronger bodies, but also stronger futures.