Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms among teachers and their ergonomic conditions

Abstract

Objective: To verify the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and evaluate ergonomic conditions among teachers. Methods: A quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study held in the city of Pelotas-RS, Brazil, in the period of November to December 2009. The sample was composed by 320 teachers in 6 schools. Research was accomplished by means of a socialdemographic questionnaire, a check-list for ergonomic evaluation, and the Nordic questionnaire, applied in order to evaluate the ostheomuscular symptoms. Results: 287 (89,7%) teachers referred some symptom in the last 12 months. The most affected areas were: shoulders 177 (61,6%), thoracic column 173 (60,2%) and cervical spine 163 (56,7%). Ergonomic condition of the workplace was considered unsatisfactory by the teachers. Conclusion: Ostheomuscular symptoms were found in high prevalence among teachers in Pelotas, whose ergonomic conditions are considered inappropriate, standing out the vertebral column as the most affected body part.