Kalansuriya A.1, De Silva I.1, Jayalath J.S.S.1, Costa W.D.S.T.1, Silva S.N.1
1International Institute of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, Welisara, Sri Lanka
Background: The Vedda communities (indigenous first nations of Sri Lanka) forms less than 0.13% of the county's population. They are considered as the oldest identified ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Traditional activities and methods associated with their life style, puts them at risk of musculoskeletal pathologies of various types. These communities partly still stick to their own health systems. Therefore the risk factors for diseases such as musculoskeletal conditions are important to investigate and identify.
Purpose: To identify the lifestyle risk factors related to musculoskeletal and lifestyle risk factors among the Indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka.
Methods: Thematic Analysis was performed on data collected using all the mentioned three methods. Three themes were identified. Risk activities related to domestic chores, risk activities due to the factors to do with terrain and activities and risks associated with traditional means of employment. Risk activities related to domestic chores mainly involved activities required sitting below the knee level like cooking, cleaning and sleeping. Factors of the terrain like having to climb almost vertical trees and slopes required subjecting the knee and hip joints to excessive strain. Activities like fetching water from local tanks with mud required walking on uneven terrain. Activities and risks associated with traditional employments were climbing heights to harvest bee honey, navigating the forest to collect material for ornaments, hunting under low thickets and traditional maize cultivation techniques. The study was designed as a Qualitative research in which 3 types of data collections were performed. Participatory observation was done by trained physiotherapy students, semi structured interviews were conducted and also visual ethnography using photographs were used to identify the risk activities from the consented participants in the village.
Results: Thematic Analysis was performed on data collected using all the mentioned three methods. Three themes were identified. Risk activities related to domestic chores, risk activities due to the factors to do with terrain and activities and risks associated with traditional means of employment. Risk activities related to domestic chores mainly involved activities required sitting below the knee level like cooking, cleaning and sleeping. Factors of the terrain like having to climb almost vertical trees and slopes required subjecting the knee and hip joints to excessive strain. Activities like fetching water from local tanks with mud required walking on uneven terrain. Activities and risks associated with traditional employments were climbing heights to harvest bee honey, navigating the forest to collect material for ornaments, hunting under low thickets and traditional maize cultivation techniques.
Conclusion(s): Traditional activities and life styles in unsuitable postures and terrains increased the risk of musculoskeletal pains among these indigenous communities.
Implications: Marginalized communities such as the indigenous first nations who still practice their traditional lifestyles, should be educated on musculoskeletal disease prevention. Possibly orthostatic interventions could benefit them by helping them to prevent these diseases, yet preserving their traditional lifestyle.
Funding acknowledgements: Self funding research. The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance from International Institute of Health Sciences, Sri Lanka
Topic: Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval: Bioinquirer ethics review committee, Sri Lanka
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
