Musculoskeletal Disorders Associated With Quality of Life and Body Composition in Urban and Rural Public School Teachers

Abstract

Introduction: Teachers have been reported to be a labor group with high rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), stress, and strong deterioration of quality of life (QoL). However, little information exists about the association between MSD, QoL, and body composition in rural and urban teachers.Objective: The aim was to study the association of MSD with QoL perception and body composition of urban and rural teachers.Participants and Methods: Participants are comprised a representative sample of urban and rural public schoolteachers from the Valparaiso Region, Chile. MSDs were evaluated with the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for Musculoskeletal Symptoms validated for the Chilean population. QoL perception was evaluated with the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). Body composition was measured via bioimpedance. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between MSD, QoL, and body composition, adjusted for age and gender.Results: A total of 88.9% (urban 90%; rural 87%) of teachers felt pain in some body area, 71.2% of them with limitations; 39% of teachers presented body fat obesity, with the highest rate in rural women. The body area with the greatest MSD prevalence was the neck and shoulders (68.6%). Significant differences were observed between teachers with >p75 of MSD (over six pain regions) and those with ≤p75 (six or fewer painful regions; p < 0.05) on six QoL scales and on physical health components (PCSs) and mental health (MCS) in urban teachers. However, rural teachers presented no differences. The association between teachers with >p75 MSD and low QoL perception was significant (p < 0.05) in PCS and MCS. Furthermore, the regression model presents a significant association between rural areas and low PCS perception.Conclusions: Urban and rural teachers present high rates of MSD and obesity. Teachers with higher rates of MSD have their mental and physical QoL affected, making workplace intervention in MSD necessary to prevent teacher health deterioration.

Teacher Teleworking during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Association between Work Hours, Work–Family Balance and Quality of Life

“…Given that teachers worldwide have been considered a high-risk population for rates of professional ailments impacting their QoL since before the pandemic, there are studies on the factors that impact Chilean teachers’ physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 31 , 33 , 34 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between the intensity of teleworking hours during the pandemic, work–family balance and quality of life in Chilean teachers during the COVID-19 health emergency.…”

Telework Experience of Pedagogues during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strong Learning Seniors and Relaxed Leaders?

“…However, in terms of employees' attitude to telework, the majority claim to have become accustomed to working remotely and believe in its continuity [18]. Most employees believed telework to be entrenched in the labour market.…”

“…The transfer of education services to home has altered pedagogues' lifestyle and quality of life in general. Research carried out during the pandemic has shown evidence that muscle and bone system disorders became more frequent in educators, that stress levels increased, and that quality of life indicators decreased [18,30]. Research has also shown that teachers younger than 44 years of age had a higher risk of psychological disorders while those over 44 had a higher risk of physical disorders [18,47].…”

“…Research carried out during the pandemic has shown evidence that muscle and bone system disorders became more frequent in educators, that stress levels increased, and that quality of life indicators decreased [18,30]. Research has also shown that teachers younger than 44 years of age had a higher risk of psychological disorders while those over 44 had a higher risk of physical disorders [18,47]. Neuropsychological disorders are influenced by the mandatory additional effort required to organize education activities [43].…”

Shoulder Pain in COVID-19 Survivors Following Mechanical Ventilation

“…This affects upper limb function, generating higher costs to public health and the national economy, as well as lower productivity and other problems [2][3][4][5][6]. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders affect people's quality of life, shoulder pain in particular [7,8]. The collateral problems associated with patients' long mechanical ventilation stay could also be due to, or aggravated by, SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”