To answer the research questions on prevalence of musculoskeletal
discomfort in farmers of Kanpur-rural, India an appropriate scale:
Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was selected. Since
Hindi is language used in rural areas of Kanpur, Hindi version of the
scale was used in the present study. NMQ Hindi translation was done
using forward and backward translation method. Face and content
validity was established for the Hindi version of NMQ.
The NMQ can be used as a questionnaire or as a structured interview.
In very explicit and simple terms respondents were asked if they had experienced any musculoskeletal discomfort in any of the joints in their body which prevented them from performing normal activity during the past 12 months or for a short and temporary period of 7 days [17].
Compilation of the responses was aided by an illustrative body map to indicate the major nine symptom sites -- neck, shoulder, upper back, elbow, low back, wrist/hands, hip/thighs, knees, and ankles/feet.