Background: Block lifting is a physically demanding occupation that involves repetitive heavy lifting, bending, twisting, prolonged standing, and working in awkward postures. These physical demands may place excessive stress on different parts of the body and increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain. Despite the physical demands associated with block lifting, limited research has specifically examined the prevalence and distribution of musculoskeletal pain among block lifters.

Objective: To assess musculoskeletal pain in various body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, lower back, knees, etc.) among block lifters using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E).

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 237 male and female block lifters working at various construction sites in Navi Mumbai. Participants were aged between 18–45 years and were selected using purposive sampling. Participants working for 7–8 hours and having at least six months of construction experience were included. Musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E). The responses were coded as Yes = 1 and No = 0. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and results were expressed as frequency and percentage, along with mean ± standard deviation for age.

Results: The findings showed that 54.9% (130/237) of the block lifters reported musculoskeletal pain, while 45.1% reported no pain. The lower back had the highest prevalence of pain (20.3%), followed by the neck (19.0%), knee (7.2%), shoulder (4.2%), and upper back (4.2%). Among the symptomatic workers, 100% reported trouble in the last 12 months, 90% reported trouble in the last month, and 83.8% had symptoms on the day of assessment. Normal work was affected in 86.5% of symptomatic workers, while 30.8% reported taking sick leave.

Conclusion: The study concludes that musculoskeletal pain is common among block lifters, with the lower back and neck being the most frequently affected body regions. The findings also demonstrate that musculoskeletal pain can interfere with normal work and contribute to sick leave and changes in occupation. Preventive strategies such as ergonomic education, proper lifting techniques, regular rest breaks, strengthening and exercise programmes, and early physiotherapy intervention may help reduce musculoskeletal pain and its impact on work among block lifters