Association of Coccydynia with Prolonged Sitting Among Delivery Bike Riders in Lahore

Abstract

Background: Coccydynia is a painful musculoskeletal condition affecting the coccygeal region and is commonly aggravated by prolonged sitting, vibration exposure, and poor ergonomic support. Delivery bike riders are particularly vulnerable because of extended daily riding hours and sustained seated posture during work. Objective: To determine the association between prolonged sitting, represented by daily riding duration, and coccydynia-related pain and disability among delivery bike riders in Lahore. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 241 male delivery bike riders aged 18 to 55 years in Lahore, Pakistan. Participants with at least two years of riding experience were recruited through convenience sampling. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale, functional disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index, and a standardized pain localization diagram was used to identify coccygeal pain. Descriptive statistics and chi-square testing were performed using SPSS version 21, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Most participants rode 7–9 hours (38.2%) or 10–12 hours (27.4%) daily. Moderate pain was the most commonly reported pain category. Disability burden increased substantially with longer riding duration; riders in the 7–9 hour and 10–12 hour groups demonstrated markedly higher proportions of moderate, severe, and crippled disability than lower-exposure groups. The association between daily riding duration and disability was statistically significant (χ² = 110.19, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Prolonged occupational sitting was significantly associated with greater coccygeal disability among delivery bike riders in Lahore. Ergonomic interventions, rest strategies, and occupational health measures may help reduce musculoskeletal risk in this workforce.