Musculoskeletal disorders in the teaching profession: an emerging workplace hazard with significant repercussions for developing countries

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) represent one of the most common and important occupational health problems in the teaching profession, which although long neglected, has attracted increasing concern in recent years 1, 2). By definition, MSD include a wide range of inflammatory and degenerative conditions affecting the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and the localised blood circulation system, that may be caused by or aggravated by work tasks and by the effects of the immediate environment in which work is carried out 3). School teachers in general, have been demonstrated relative to other occupational groups, to report high rates of MSD 4) of between 40% and 95% 5). The work of a teacher involves not only teaching students, but also preparing lessons, assessing students' work and extracurricular activities, such as sports. These activities may cause teachers to suffer adverse mental and physical health issues due to their unique and wide variety of job functions 6). By body site, school teachers appear to be more prone to suffer MSD of the back, neck and upper limbs 4, 6, 7). While a number of studies have been carried out to specifically investigate back and neck related MSD, few studies have looked at whole body MSD, and even fewer have been carried out to specifically investigate MSD of the lower extremities. The literature suggests that the cause of MSD is multifactorial 5, 8, 9) , with individual factors such as female gender 1, 10, 11) , smoking, sleep disturbance, previous injury and number of children having been found to contribute 12). While MSD has been positively associated with length of employment, research findings are somewhat inconsistent in this regard, with some studies reporting longer length of employment as being positively associated with MSD; while others have found that new teachers are more likely to report MSD. Similar, albeit conflicting, findings have also been observed for age 5). Work-related factors such as school level, prolonged standing, sitting and awkward posture are known to be positively associated with MSD 1, 12, 13). Research suggests that psychosocial factors such as high workload/demands, high perceived stress levels, low social support, low job control, low job satisfaction and monotonous work are most likely associated with MSD among school teachers 5, 11). On the other hand, factors such as regular exercise and satisfaction with one's work environment may have a protective effect against MSD within this occupational group 11). In …