Abstract
Background: Family caregivers bear a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which may precipitate sarcopenia and care burden. This study hypothesizes that the occurrence of MSDs may be related to caregiver burden and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older family caregivers.
Study Purposes: (1) To investigate the incidence of MSDs, sarcopenia, and the level of care burden among middle-aged and older family caregivers; (2) To identify the correlations between MSDs, sarcopenia, and care burden.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Family caregivers who received services from the Caregivers Association or home care services and met the inclusion criteria, including being age 50 or older, living with a disabled patient, spending most of their time in care activities, and caring for a patient for more than one month, were recruited. Forty-eight middle-aged and older adults were surveyed by using “caregivers' characteristics sheet”, “Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire”, and “caregiver burden scale”. Kinetic technology was applied to measure sarcopenia. SPSS version 26 was used for descriptive statistics and point-biserial correlation analysis.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 66 years (SD = 10). Nearly 65% of family caregivers were female, and 46% were the patients' spouses. They had taken on caregiving tasks for an average of 45 months (SD=78). Approximately 77% of caregivers had no substitute caregiver. There were 77% of caregivers reported MSD. Injuries were commonly reported in the low back and lumbar regions (42%). The incidence of sarcopenia was 40%. Family caregivers reported moderate caregiver burden, particularly in the “time burden” dimension. There was a significant correlation between MSD and caregiver burden (r=.35, p=.014), but no significant correlation between sarcopenia and caregiver burden (r=.23, p=.127), or between MSD and sarcopenia (r=-.31, p=.375).
Implications in practice: Family caregivers experience a high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and sarcopenia, which is worthy of concern. The relationship between MSD and caregiver burden requires implementing multiple interventions, such as exercise, nutrition, muscle strengthening, ergonomic protection, and body-mind relaxation protocols. The limitations of a small sample size and the lack of follow-up due to the COVID pandemic suggest the need for a large-scale, longitudinal study with intervention plans in the future.
Notes
Acknowledgement of funding support from the National Science and Technology Council (MOST 110-2314-B-037-080-MY2).
References:
1. Akishita, M., Kozaki, K., Iijima, K., Tanaka, T., Shibasaki, K., Ogawa, S., & Arai, H. (2018). Definitions and diagnosis of sarcopenia. Geriatrics & Gerontology International, 18, 7-12.
2. Chen, L. K., Woo, J., Assantachai, P., Auyeung, T. W., Chou, M. Y., Iijima, K., ... & Kojima, T. (2020). Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 consensus update on sarcopenia diagnosis and treatment. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 21(3), 300-307.
3. Pereira Gomes, N., Chaves Pedreira, L., Gomes Neto, M., Morais da Conceicao, M., dos Santos Sampaio, R., & Farias Amorim, R. (2024). Caregivers for older people and the working conditions associated with care. Saúde e Pesquisa, 17(1), e-12239.
4. Montero-Cuadrado, F., Barrero-Santiago, L., Llamas-Ramos, R., & Llamas-Ramos, I. (2022). Musculoskeletal pain in family caregivers: Does a therapeutic physical program in primary care work? A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(1), 185.
5. Trajanoska, K., Schoufour, J. D., Darweesh, S. K., Benz, E., Medina-Gomez, C., Alferink, L. J., ... & Zillikens, M. C. (2018). Sarcopenia and its clinical correlates in the general population: The Rotterdam study. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33(7), 1209-1218.
Sigma Membership
Lambda Beta at-Large
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Long-Term Care, Public and Community Health, Caregivers, Burden of Care, Psychology of Caregivers, Sarcopenia, Musculoskeletal System Diseases
Recommended Citation
Lin, Shu-Yuan, "Musculoskeletal Disorders, Care Burden, and Sarcopenia: A Preliminary Study on Family Caregivers" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 127.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/127
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-27
Musculoskeletal Disorders, Care Burden, and Sarcopenia: A Preliminary Study on Family Caregivers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Family caregivers bear a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which may precipitate sarcopenia and care burden. This study hypothesizes that the occurrence of MSDs may be related to caregiver burden and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older family caregivers.
Study Purposes: (1) To investigate the incidence of MSDs, sarcopenia, and the level of care burden among middle-aged and older family caregivers; (2) To identify the correlations between MSDs, sarcopenia, and care burden.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Family caregivers who received services from the Caregivers Association or home care services and met the inclusion criteria, including being age 50 or older, living with a disabled patient, spending most of their time in care activities, and caring for a patient for more than one month, were recruited. Forty-eight middle-aged and older adults were surveyed by using “caregivers' characteristics sheet”, “Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire”, and “caregiver burden scale”. Kinetic technology was applied to measure sarcopenia. SPSS version 26 was used for descriptive statistics and point-biserial correlation analysis.
Results: The mean age of the study participants was 66 years (SD = 10). Nearly 65% of family caregivers were female, and 46% were the patients' spouses. They had taken on caregiving tasks for an average of 45 months (SD=78). Approximately 77% of caregivers had no substitute caregiver. There were 77% of caregivers reported MSD. Injuries were commonly reported in the low back and lumbar regions (42%). The incidence of sarcopenia was 40%. Family caregivers reported moderate caregiver burden, particularly in the “time burden” dimension. There was a significant correlation between MSD and caregiver burden (r=.35, p=.014), but no significant correlation between sarcopenia and caregiver burden (r=.23, p=.127), or between MSD and sarcopenia (r=-.31, p=.375).
Implications in practice: Family caregivers experience a high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and sarcopenia, which is worthy of concern. The relationship between MSD and caregiver burden requires implementing multiple interventions, such as exercise, nutrition, muscle strengthening, ergonomic protection, and body-mind relaxation protocols. The limitations of a small sample size and the lack of follow-up due to the COVID pandemic suggest the need for a large-scale, longitudinal study with intervention plans in the future.
Description
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 48 family caregivers in Taiwan. The results partly support the hypothesis that the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders correlated with caregiver burden, but the relationship between MSDs and sarcopenia was absent among middle-aged and older family caregivers.