Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risk factors in special education teachers and teacher’s aides

Abstract

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have become increasingly common among health-related professionals. Special education personnel who serve students with disabilities often experience physical strains; however, WMSDs have been overlooked in this population. The objectives of this study were to investigate the work-related ergonomics-associated factors in this population and to evaluate their correlation with the WMSDs prevalence.MethodsA questionnaire with three domains, namely demographics, prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and ergonomic factors, designed by our research team was delivered to educators who work in special education schools.ResultsApproximately 86 % of the 388 special education school teachers and teacher’s aides in this study experienced musculoskeletal disorders. The lower back, shoulder, and wrist were the three most affected regions. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the participants’ background factors, namely >5.5 years of experience (odds ratio [OR] = 4.090, 95 % CI: 1.350-12.390), students with multiple disorders (OR = 2.412, 95 % CI: 1.100-5.287), and other work-related ergonomic factors (assistance in diaper changing and others duties), were strongly associated with the prevalence of WMSD. Nap habit (OR = 0.442, 95 % CI: 0.230-0.851) and having teaching partners in the same class (OR = 0.486, 95 % CI: 0.250-0.945) resulted in low possibility of acquiring WMSDs. The use of supportive devices was associated with a low WMSD prevalence.ConclusionsThe present study revealed an association between WMSDs and specific job features among teachers and teacher’s aides in special education schools. Future efforts should emphasize examining safe student-handling ergonomics, formulating policies regarding student-teacher ratio, incorporating mandatory break times at the workplaces, and promoting personal health for preventing work-related injuries.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-2777-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The Observational Research Study with the Trends in Healthcare Training and Leadership Ethics in The United States

“…The use of ergonomics in addressing musculoskeletal injuries and disorders has been studied in various contexts In another study by Hsin-Yi Kathy Cheng, Man-Ting Wong, Yu-Chung Yu, & Yan-Ying Ju (2016), the workrelated ergonomic-associated variables and its relation to work-related musculoskeletal problems were investigated among healthcare professionals focused on special education. A total of 338 special education schoolteachers and teacher's aides answered a questionnaire focused on three domains, which included demographics, the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal problems, and ergonomic factors (Cheng et al, 2016). Among the sample, 89% reported having had experienced musculoskeletal disorders, with the most affected anatomical parts being the lower back, shoulder, and wrist.…”

“…Among the sample, 89% reported having had experienced musculoskeletal disorders, with the most affected anatomical parts being the lower back, shoulder, and wrist. Results of the regression analysis showed that background factors, students with multiple disorders, and ergonomic factors such as assistance in diaper changing and other duties were strongly linked to the development of work-related healthcare training (Cheng et al, 2016). Also, the use of assistive devices was found to reduce the prevalence of work-related MSDs ( Oranye and Bennett (2018) examined the musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal injuries among workers in the healthcare sector to understand the implications for work disability management.…”

“…Cheng et al, 2016). Likewise,Williams et al (2017) argued that there is a need for policies within healthcare facilities to consider how to mitigate healthcare professionals' musculoskeletal health.…”

Implicações do ambiente, condições e organização do trabalho na saúde do professor: uma revisão sistemática

“…Ainda como adversidade recorrente em docentes, tem-se a dor musculoesquelética. Entre as regiões mais afetadas estão as costas, os ombros, o pescoço e as extremidades 28 . Alguns dos fatores capazes de afetar a estrutura física são as posturas incorretas, os longos períodos na mesma posição, o mobiliário inadequado, além da falta de fortalecimento e alongamento 16,29 .…”

Riesgo biomecánico por carga estática y morbilidad sentida en docentes universitarios, Medellín 2018

“…(12); Farzan Madadizadeh(9), realizado en Irán en 2017; y en el de Penying Yue(11), elaborado en China en 2012, predominaron la región lumbar, el cuello y los hombros como los más afectados, lo que se correlaciona con los resultados obtenidos en esta investigación; sin embargo, hay estudios como el de Hsin-Yi Kathy Cheng (2016), realizado en China, en el cual se muestra mayor prevalencia en otras zonas, como la muñeca con un 56,7 %, lo que puede asociarse a las labores administrativas, las cuales implican hacer uso del computador, revisar notas, organizas tareas y actividades(13).En investigaciones como la de Pengying Yue y colaboradores de 2012, se halló asociación entre morbilidad sentida e imc, lo que difiere del artículo presente, donde no se encontró relación directa entre estas variables; esto puede ser debido a que la mayoría de los participantes presentaba un peso normal y solo el 1,4 % tenía obesidad tipo 1(11).En el artículo de Mohammad y colaboradores de 2018, asocian la satisfacción laboral frente a los períodos insuficientes de descanso proporcionados en el trabajo con el desarrollo de dolor lumbar; información que no es escalable en el presente estudio, debido a que todos los participantes manifestaron sentirse satisfechos o muy satisfechos con su trabajo, e, independientemente de dicha satisfacción, los participantes manifiestan algún tipo de morbilidad sentida por sintomatología dolorosa(12).En la realización de esta investigación, es necesario resaltar que una de las actividades que refirieron ejecutar con mayor frecuencia los docentes fue el uso del computador, en un 51,3 %, basado en un tiempo de exposición mayor a cinco horas, en comparación con otros estudios como el de Penying Yue en 2012, cuyos resultados muestran un porcentaje del 82,2% (11), basados en un tiempo de exposición menor a cuatro horas diarias, lo que puede ser un factor que contribuya a generar riesgos biomecánicos y aumento de la morbilidad sentida en los docentes, como lo demuestran Punett y Bergqvist en 1999 y Sirajudeen y Siddik en 2017, en sus revisiones sobre los hallazgos epidemiológicos, en las cuales sugieren que estos trastornos se asocian con la duración del uso del computador y el riesgo que se incrementa proporcionalmente con cada hora de uso diario(14,15).Al evaluar el nivel de riesgo biomecánico en los docentes, se puede apreciar que más del 60 % de la población se encuentra en un nivel de riesgo medio y alto, según los hallazgos, representados por un 62,8 % de los evaluados, lo cual indica, de acuerdo con los criterios de intervención del método reba, la necesidad de actuación inmediata o de control sobre las condiciones de peligro que exponen a riesgo a los docentes evaluados. Lo anterior se relaciona con lo encontrado en el estudio de Marie-Ève Chiasson y colaboradores de 2012, quienes evaluaron el nivel de riesgo biomecánico por carga estática por medio del método reba, observando que el 100 % de los puestos de trabajo presentaba un riesgo entre medio y Riesgo biomecánico por carga estática y morbilidad sentida en docentes universitarios, Medellín 2018…”