Back pain occurred due to changes in routinary activities among Brazilian schoolteachers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective This study’s main objective was to investigate the emergence of back pain as a consequence to changes in usual activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic among teachers in public schools in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 15,276 schoolteachers using an online questionnaire. The variables included sociodemographic and occupational data, health situation, habits and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bivariate analyses using Pearson’s chi-square test and multiple analyses using Poisson regression were performed to identify the associated factors. Results About 58% of schoolteachers reported back pain due to changes in routine activities during the pandemic. The adjusted model showed a correlation between back pain and female sex, longer working hours, overwork, difficulties concerning distance working, negative changes in health status and quality of sleep; frequent feeling of sadness, depression, or anxiety; use of medications to relax, sleep or against stress/anxiety/depression; physical inactivity or negative changes in the practice of physical activities; increased body weight; reduction of leisure time; increased time of use of computer or tablet and overload of housework. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, schoolteachers reported a high prevalence of emergence of back pain, which delineates a contradiction in terms: on the one hand, distance education allows social distancing that contributes to the preservation of teachers’ health by reducing the risk of contamination by COVID-19. On the other hand, it imposes new demands that—in disagreement with working conditions—can threaten the health of these workers.

Musculoskeletal disorders in university professors who telework due to COVID-19 pandemic

“…Similarly, a study of public school teachers from Brazil found the appearance of back pain in 57.8% of the participants as a consequence of the change in routine activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic (20) . The regression analysis presented by the authors shows the association between back pain and female gender as well as with the teaching seniority (16 years or more), which is similar to what was observed in this work.…”

Physical activity level and factors associated with perceived stress among Peruvian university professors during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Additionally, more than 84% of those surveyed presented some problem related to sleep quality, requiring attention and/or medical treatment, being well above that reported by López-García et al, Crepaldi et al and Freitas et al [ 5 , 6 , 47 ]. Preliminary reports suggest that professors present sleep problems, such as daytime sleepiness [ 55 ] and insomnia [ 56 ], an issue that has been aggravated by the transition to RW, reduction in financial stability [ 13 , 57 ] and PA practice [ 57 ] due to confinement, which obliges the professors to take several jobs, extending their working hours and workload, with the consequent affectation of their quality of life [ 55 , 56 ] and perceived stress [ 6 ].…”

Back and neck problems as well as disadvantageous ergonomic behavior patterns in university students: Concomitants of the pandemic?

“…The COVID-19 pandemic containment strategies, including lockdowns, social withdrawal, and remote working, have a significant impact on daily (working) life [2] . The aforementioned penalties, particularly remote working, contributed to lengthy periods of sitting, which facilitated not only musculoskeletal problems [14] , [19] but also the development of metabolic disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases [5] , [10] .…”