A Survey Assessing the Prevalence of Calf Muscle Pain and Tightness Among Traffic Police Officers in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Traffic police officers are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders of the lower extremities due to their exposure to prolonged standing, walking on hard road surfaces, repetitive lower extremity use, and limited postures during their working hours. The calf muscle, which is one of the main muscles of the calf and plays a vital role in standing and walking, is at risk of developing overuse and myofascial tightness syndrome due to static loading. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of calf muscle pain and tightness among traffic police officers.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of calf muscle pain and tightness among traffic police officers and to identify associated occupational risk factors.

Methods:  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the traffic police officers working in Bhattarahalli, Bangalore. For this, a structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information, like details about their age, work profile, and other job-related factors. Pain levels were measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), along with a 5-point Likert scale, and the presence of calf muscle tightness was also measured. Associations with duty hours, footwear use, and years of service were analyzed.

Results: A total of  50 traffic police officers volunteered to participate in the survey to determine the prevalence of calf muscle pain and tightness. Most of the officers who participated in the study were male (96%), between the ages of 22 and 49 years, with 5-10 years of work experience, and worked 9-10 hours a day (70%). Most of the officers experienced moderate levels of pain, with 52% of the officers experiencing a level of pain of 5/10 on the VAS scale. Pain was experienced in the left gastrocnemius (medial head), left soleus, and right gastrocnemius (lateral head) muscles. In total, 82% of the officers experienced calf muscle pain and tightness due to prolonged standing and the use of police boots during work hours.

Conclusion: The study concludes that Calf pain and tightness are extremely common among traffic police, as they have to stand continuously and wear heavy boots. It is recognized that most police officers felt moderate discomfort, especially in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Preventive strategies such as regular stretching, strengthening exercises, and appropriate footwear may help reduce muscle fatigue and improve work performance.