Introduction:

Health care workers are constantly confronted with complex tasks that affect the lumbar region and lower limbs.

Objective:

To identify the prevalence of lumbosacral and lower limb osteomyoarticular pathologies in nursing assistants.

Method:

An epidemiological, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in the 18D04 health district of Tungurahua, Ecuador. A total of 46 nursing assistants were selected in this study. We aimed a questionnaire to assess the sociodemographic variables, seniority in the health sector, time schedules, modes and time of exposure to the usual work. Chi-square test, Pearson's parametric correlation test, and the Student's t-test were used.

Results:

Most nursing assistants, the 85%, were diagnosed with lumbosacral and lower limb pathologies, and 39% took a temporary absence from work between 1-3 days. It was found that 37 % performed the heavy load work and 33% performed prolonged walks. The 67% had between 11 and 40 years of work and the rest had less than 10 years in the health sector. Fifty-four percent suffered from lower limb pathologies and 46% from lumbosacral pathologies.

Conclusions:

Lumbosacral and lower limb osteomyoarticular pathology is related to age, and their suffering in the last 12 months has led to a level of absenteeism in the workplace. There was no an important relationship, statistically, between osteomyoarticular pathology and seniority in the sector, working hours and the activities most frequently performed.

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