The association between physical activity and musculoskeletal disorders—a cross-sectional study of teachers

Introduction

Previous studies have identified musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as one of the greatest public health problems worldwide and a frequent cause of absenteeism in the workplace (Matikainen & Sjögren, 2020; Pan et al., 2019; Roman-Liu, 2008). MSDs are injuries or dysfunctions affecting muscles, ligaments, joints, bones, nerves, and spinal discs. The most common symptoms of MSDs are pain, joint stiffness, tingling and numbness in the muscles, as well as reduced mobility and functional impairment. They can be divided according to duration (acute and chronic), localization (local and general), and causes (primary and secondary) (Da Costa & Vieira, 2010; Malińska, 2019). According to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), MSDs are the third most common cause of incapacity for work in Poland (Bugajska, Żołnierczyk-Zreda & Hildt-Ciupińska, 2011). Both excessive physical workload and prolonged and improperly performed sedentary work can cause MSDs. The risk factors of MSDs include insufficient physical activity, lifting and carrying loads, computer work, static loads, awkward and/or sustained postures, abnormal sagittal spinal curvatures, prolonged sitting and standing, as well as being overweight and smoking (Da Costa & Vieira, 2010; Malińska, 2019; Zwierzchowska & Tuz, 2018; Gaweł & Zwierzchowska, 2021; Zwierzchowska et al., 2022). However, each type of MSDs (e.g., lower back pain, knee, or hand/wrist pain) has different risk factors (Da Costa & Vieira, 2010; Malińska, 2019).

The effects of physical activity (PA), as primary and secondary prevention of lifestyle diseases, e.g. cardiovascular or metabolic diseases, have been well documented in previous studies (Garber et al., 2011; Petermann-Rocha et al., 2019; Reiner et al., 2013; Sanz, Gautier & Hanaire, 2010). Participation in regular PA can help meet work requirements and enhance the quality of life regardless of age (Koolhaas et al., 2018; Grabara, Nawrocka & Powerska-Didkowska, 2018). Previous studies have revealed a significant positive relationship between PA and the ability to work (Grabara, Nawrocka & Powerska-Didkowska, 2018; Arvidson et al., 2013; Nawrocka et al., 2019). High levels of PA during leisure time have been associated with a lowered risk of long-term sickness absence (López-Bueno et al., 2020). Furthermore, leisure-time PA can prevent and reduce the occurrence of MSDs in all age groups (Nawrocka et al., 2019; Buyukavci, Akturk & Akturk, 2020; Nawrocka et al., 2014; Murata et al., 2019). On the other hand, high intensity and volume of PA can increase the risk of injury and contribute to the occurrence of MSDs (Kesaniemi et al., 2001; Grabara & Sadowska-Krępa, 2021). Similarly, certain types of occupational activity are not beneficial due to insufficient intensity, duration, and static postures (Hallman, Jørgensen & Holtermann, 2017). Previous studies focusing on the association between different domains of PA and MSDs have shown inconsistent findings (Hoogendoorn et al., 1999; Hildebrandt et al., 2000).

Engaging in PA is particularly important among white-collar workers (e.g., teachers), for whom the main body position at work is sedentary. Combined with insufficient PA, prolonged and improperly performed sedentary work can lead to MSDs. The teaching profession is characterized by a high mental workload, high levels of stress and physical complaints, low job satisfaction, and relatively high absenteeism (Grabara, Nawrocka & Powerska-Didkowska, 2018; Maguire & O’Connell, 2007). Previous studies have shown that the risk of developing MSDs also depends on psychosocial factors such as time pressure, low job satisfaction, high demands, and insufficient social support (Bongers, Kremer & Ter, 2002; Hoogendoorn et al., 2000; Häkkänen, Viikari-Juntura & Martikainen, 2001; Bugajska et al., 2011). Therefore, it is important to promote PA among this group of employees.

The aim of this study was (I) to evaluate the self-reported level of PA and the prevalence of MSDs among male and female teachers, and (II) to investigate the association between PA and MSDs in teachers in Polish primary and secondary schools. It was hypothesized that men would be characterized by higher levels of PA than women, the most commonly reported MSDs would be lower back pain, and the prevalence of MSDs would be related to the PA.

Materials and Methods

Results

The participants’ demographics are presented in Table 1.

Most of the studied teachers, with a similar percentage of women and men (80% and 90%, respectively), declared their participation in MPA at least 150 min per week, whereas 50% of women and 75% of men declared their participation in VPA or/and HVPA at least 75 min per week, with this difference being statistically significant (Chi² = 9.33, p = 0.002, V = 0.19). Meeting the WHO recommendations by studied teachers is presented in Fig. 1. It was found that male teachers were more likely to engage in VPA or/and HVPA than female teachers, and this difference was statistically significant (Z = 3.37, p = 0.0008 r = 0.21).

The self-reported levels of PA during the week, workweek, and weekend are presented in Table 2. Differences between women and men were found in VPA and HVPA, and total weekly energy expenditure on PA. However, the effect size was small (<0.30) (Table 2). The comparison of participation in PA during the workweek vs. on weekend did not reveal any statistically significant differences.

The prevalence of MSDs during the last 12 months and the last 7 days is presented in Table 3. The 12-month prevalence of MSDs was 57% for lower back pain, 53% for neck pain, 38% for upper back pain, and 37% for knee pain. The remaining 7-day prevalence of MSDs in certain areas of the body was lower than in the last 12 months. The highest average pain intensity was reported for the lower back and neck (Table 3).

The association between weekly PA and the prevalence of MSDs during the last 12 months, the last 7 days, and the pain intensity during the last 7 days is presented in Table 4. The analysis revealed that teachers who did not report any MSDs during the last 12 months, nor the last 7 days (as listed in Table 4), performed more PA, particularly VPA and total PA, than the teachers who reported MSDs. The pain intensity was negatively correlated with participation in PA, particularly MPA and total PA (Table 4). Correlation analysis also indicated the relationship between VPA and the sum of all MSDs during the last 12 months (Spearman rho = −0.17, p = 0.007), as well as the sum of all MSDs during the last 7 days (Spearman rho = −0.19, p = 0.003). These correlations show that teachers complaining of multiple MSDs may be less likely to engage in VPA than those who had fewer MSDs. However, the observed correlations were trivial.

The analysis of the prevalence of MSDs in certain parts of the body during the last 12 months reported by the teachers in relation to meeting/not meeting WHO recommendations showed several limitations in meeting the recommendation regarding MPA for the teachers self-reporting MSDs of the wrists/hands (Chi² = 3.97, p = 0.046, V = 0.13), ankles/feet (Chi² = 4.92, p = 0.027, V = 0.14), and meeting the recommendation regarding VPA for the teachers self-reporting MSDs of the shoulders (Chi² = 5.37, p = 0.020, V = 0.15), and knees (Chi² = 4.31, p = 0.038, V = 0.13). A similar analysis of the prevalence of MSDs during the last 7 days showed that only hips/thighs pain was more often associated with not meeting the WHO recommendation regarding MPA by teachers (Chi² = 3.88, p = 0.049, V = 0.12). However, the effect size was small (<0.2).

The study did not reveal any significant correlations between body mass, BMI, and the prevalence of MSDs in certain parts of the body during the last 12 months and during the last 7 days. However, it was observed that age was positively correlated with wrist/hand pain (Spearman rho = 0.16, p = 0.01), and knees pain (Spearman rho = 0.16, p = 0.01) self-reported during the last 12 months, and with wrist/hand pain (Spearman rho = 0.17, p = 0.007), lower back pain (Spearman rho = 0.15, p = 0.018), and hip/thighs pain (Spearman rho = 0.20, p = 0.001) reported during the last 7 days.

The analysis between quantitative variables of PA and age, body mass and BMI showed that age negatively correlated with HVPA (Spearman rho = −0.16, p = 0.010), body mass negatively correlated with total PA (Spearman rho = −0.13, p = 0.040), and MPA (Spearman rho = −0.15, p = 0.021), and BMI negatively correlated with total PA (Spearman rho = −0.19, p = 0.002), MPA (Spearman rho = −0.13, p = 0.039), VPA (Spearman rho = −0.14, p = 0.026), and HVPA (Spearman rho = −0.20, p = 0.002). However, these correlations were trivial or weak.

Discussion

This study assessed the level of PA, the prevalence of MSDs, and the association between PA and MSDs in male and female primary and secondary schools teachers.

Over 80% of the teachers met the WHO recommendations on MPA, whereas male teachers were significantly more likely to meet the WHO recommendations on VPA and/or HVPA than female teachers. The comparison of quantitative variables of PA showed that male teachers were more likely to declare engaging in VPA and HVPA than female teachers. In their study of teachers that assessed PA by using IPAQ, Grabara, Nawrocka & Powerska-Didkowska (2018) found that male teachers had higher levels of VPA and MPA than female teachers (Grabara, Nawrocka & Powerska-Didkowska, 2018). In a study by Biernat & Tomaszewski (2015), the authors reported that 62% of working residents of Warsaw aged 20–69 years met the recommendation on healthy PA, and women were more frequently insufficiently active compared to men. Other studies have also demonstrated gender differences in PA levels and reported higher mean scores for PA in men compared to women (Gerovasili et al., 2015; Gauthier et al., 2012).

Lower back pain was the most commonly reported MSD followed by neck, upper back, and knee disorders. The high pain intensity experienced by the teachers was also reported in the lower back and neck. These findings are similar to previous studies on MSDs as several studies have also indicated that lower back pain and/or neck pain are the most commonly reported by teachers (Vega-fernández, Olave & Lizana, 2022; Durmus & Ilhanli, 2012; Solis-Soto et al., 2017; Scopa et al., 2020; Almeida et al., 2021; Tami et al., 2021; Abdel-Salam et al., 2021). Vega-fernández, Olave & Lizana (2022) found that 91% of Chilean teachers had some form of MSDs during the last 12 months, with the most commonly reported complaints being lower back pain (60%) and neck pain (47%). In Turkish teachers, the most common MSDs were lower back pain (75%), neck pain (48%), and knee pain (31%) (Durmus & Ilhanli, 2012). Solis-Soto et al. (2017) investigated the prevalence of MSDs in individual parts of the body over 12 months among 86% of Bolivian teachers. The most common MSDs were neck pain (47%) and knee pain (38%), whereas lower back pain and upper back pain were reported by 33% and 36% of participants, respectively (Solis-Soto et al., 2017). Scopa et al. (2020) studied the prevalence of MSDs in 92% of Italian teachers. Almeida et al. (2021) noted that active professors of the Instituto Federal do Sertão Pernambucano reported having felt some type of musculoskeletal symptom in the last 7 days, mostly in the lower back (53%) and lower limbs (29%). Tami et al. (2021) found that the neck and lower back were reported by university teachers in Cameroon as the areas of the body most affected by MSDs during both the previous 7 days and 12 months. Abdel-Salam et al. (2021) indicated the lower back (68%), knees (59%), shoulders (48%), and neck (45%) as the area most affected by MSDs over a 12-month period among female secondary school teachers.

As has been shown, the lower back and neck were commonly reported by teachers to be the areas most affected by MSDs. Lower back pain and neck pain may be caused by the sedentary postures experienced during their work. Prolonged sitting can overload the passive elements of the spine, and tilting the head forward can cause excessive tension in the neck muscles, leading to pain (Søndergaard et al., 2010; Waongenngarm, Rajaratnam & Janwantanakul, 2015). Bontrup et al. (2019) found a small association between general sitting behavior and chronic lower back pain in sedentary office workers. The authors indicated that the causes of lower back pain were multifactorial (Bontrup et al., 2019). Psychological factors such as low levels of job control, high psychological demands, and work dissatisfaction may also be responsible for the MSDs self-reported by teachers. High mental stress and occupational stress may increase muscle tension, which can lead to muscle fatigue and reduce the ability to relax (Da Costa & Vieira, 2010; Bongers, Kremer & Ter, 2002). Abdel-Salam et al. (2021) indicated an age above 40, more than 10 years of teaching, and uncomfortable school furniture as factors of work-related MSDs in female teachers from Saudi Arabia. Ndonye, Matara & Muriithi (2019) pointed to age, working in a head-down posture, lack of back support in chairs, teaching for over 4 h while standing, and teaching for over 4 h while sitting as factors associated with work-related MSDs in primary school teachers (Ndonye, Matara & Muriithi, 2019). In this study, age was also found to be a factor associated with MSDs in certain parts of the body, i.e. wrists/hands, knees, lower back and hips/thighs.

The present study examined the association between PA and the prevalence of MSDs. The teachers who reported neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, or foot pain during the last 12 months and neck, wrist, hands, or knee pain during the last 7 days participated in lower levels of VPA than those who did not report these complaints. Further analysis showed that teachers with a greater number of MSDs had a lower propensity to engage in VPA and total PA than those with fewer painful areas of the body. These findings are in line with those reported by Pan et al. (2019), who concluded that multiple-site pain was consistently related to increased low-intensity PA and reduced MPA to VPA. Moreover, Pan et al. (2019) found that people with a greater number of painful musculoskeletal sites have reduced levels of PA compared to those experiencing pain at two or fewer sites. Tami et al. (2021) did not find any association between PA and MSDs for MSDs occurring during the previous 7 days and 12 months. However, the authors observed a higher prevalence of 7-day MSDs in teachers who were inactive compared to those who were active. This was especially notable for the neck, lower back and upper back (Tami et al., 2021). Based on a study including 3,492 physicians, AIOmar (2021) found that a higher level of PA may prevent MSDs, although this association ceased to exist in a multivariable-adjusted model. Ezzatvar et al. (2020) stated that 75 min/week or more of leisure-time vigorous PA was associated with lower levels of neck and shoulder pain among physical therapists, whereas moderate leisure-time PA did not reveal any significant relationship with MSDs. High pain intensity may also contribute to decreased levels of PA. The results showed that pain intensity in the neck, knees, upper and lower back, and wrists/hands was negatively related to MPA and total PA. Therefore, PA may be avoided because of the pain.

The main focus of this study was to find an association between engaging in PA and the prevalence of MSDs. However, other factors, such as age, body mass, and overweight/obesity, may also affect participation in PA. The present study revealed that older teachers may participate in a lower levels of HVPA than younger teachers. Moreover, overweight/obese teachers may be less likely to engage in PA than those with normal BMI.

Further research is needed in larger populations to determine the possible relationships between engaging in PA and the prevalence of MSDs, as well as other factors that may affect the level of PA.

Conclusions

The study revealed the association between PA and MSDs. Teachers who reported a greater number of MSDs were less likely to engage in VPA and total PA than those with fewer painful areas of the body, and the prevalence of MSDs may be associated with decreased vigorous PA and total PA. Overweight- or obese teachers may be less likely to be physically active than those who had normal BMI.

Most of the teachers in the present study self-declared participation in MPA at least 150 min per week, and the lower back and neck were the areas commonly found by teachers as those most affected by MSDs.

Supplemental Information