Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of Teaching Staff in Higher Education

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this paper is to determine the prevalence of the musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) for the teachers in higher education. Examinees and methods: 100 teachers (66% men and 34% women with average age of 38.8 ± 13.1) were included in the prospective study. The information about the state of the teachers’ musculoskeletal system was gathered using a questionnaire for the MSD analysis. Potential risk factors for MSD were analyzed. MSD was observed in 74 (74%) teachers and associates (68.9% male and 31.1% female, p˂0.05). 32% Teachers had pain within the first five years of teaching work, while the rest of MSD occurred after that period. 73% of teachers were diagnosed with rigor in the lower back, 62% were diagnosed with neck pain, 45.9% were diagnosed with upper back pain, while 27% had pain in their ankles/feet. Lower pain prevalence was noticed in wrist, hands, hips and elbows. The prevalence of the musculoskeletal disorders for teachers is 74% and it is higher for men than for women. MSD, whose samples are multifactorial, are the most common in the lower back, neck, upper back and shoulders. Ergonomics and ergonomic education are the primary factors in the prevalence and treatment of MSD.