Work has been widely described as a determinant of quality of life. In addition to providing material resources, it helps to define the identity of subjects and their role in society, providing opportunity for personal control, use of skills, building goals and social contact that influence health and well-being. As in other professional activities, health impairment of teachers may be associated with their working conditions. The main causes of illnesses and absence from work are linked to the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders, respiratory diseases and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The latter is referred to as one of the most common problems among teachers, with correlation of occurrence related to low quality of life. Elementary school teachers show high prevalence of MSD complaints, being more common in the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions, shoulders, wrists and hands.
By body site, school teachers appear to be more prone to suffer MSD of the back, neck and upper limbs. 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, with individual factors such as female gender, smoking, sleep disturbance, previous injury and number of children having been found to contribute. 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. Work-related factors such as school level, prolonged standing, sitting and awkward posture are known to be positively associated with MSD. 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. 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.
In addressing the serious issue of MSD in the teaching profession, ergonomics training specific to MSD risk factors and prevention should now be introduced into teacher’s training institutions, while refresher courses relating to the work tasks and workstations of teachers should also be introduced for in-service teachers. As the majority of MSD studies conducted among teachers have focused on recall information and self-reported MSD.
Examples of common WMSDs (Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders) are:
1. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
2. Back injury and back pain
3. ArthritisTreatment
TYPES OF EXERCISE RECOMMENDED
Exercise Right recommends a combination or stretching, strengthening and improving posture through corrective movements and functional activities. There are two phases to understanding musculoskeletal pain, firstly the need to understand the mechanism of the injury (what movement’s cause pain), and secondly how to correct poor movement patterns.
1. Graduated training – the best medicine is to stay active and gradually start walking at a low-moderate pace. This will assist in maintaining not only aerobic capacity, but assist with being able to complete activities of daily living.
2. Postural correction – an accredited exercise professional will be able to provide simple cues and exercises to improve and maintain correct posture throughout day to day activities.
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3. Strengthening – people with MSDs need to re-educate their body how to move without pain, therefore exercises catering in re-educating the body how to move correctly, is extremely important. Muscle strength, particularly in the small muscles that stabilise the lower back, does not return automatically when low back pain eases. To regain this strength, it may be required to begin with some specific strengthening exercises, with graduated difficulty to progressively increase strength.
4. Flexibility – along with strengthening exercises, stretching or flexibility training needs to be incorporated in the program to restore full range of movement and improve their ability to complete functional activities. Stretching of the tight muscles/structures should be completed daily. Walking, swimming and cycling also allow people with MSDs to become active and stay active.
5. Ergonomics – the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capability of the working population. The goal of ergonomics is to reduce stress and eliminate injuries and disorders associated with the overuse of muscles, bad posture, and repeated tasks. A workplace ergonomics program can aim to prevent or control injuries and illnesses by eliminating or reducing worker exposure to WMSD risk factors using engineering and administrative controls. PPE is also used in some instances but it is the least effective workplace control to address ergonomic hazards. Risk factors include awkward postures, repetition, material handling, force, mechanical compression, vibration, temperature extremes, glare, inadequate lighting, and duration of exposure. For example, employees who spend many hours at a workstation may develop ergonomic-related problems resulting in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).