Knee, low back and disabling pain and their associated factors in instructors of gym clubs: a census study

Abstract

Background Although gym club instructors are closely linked to health and well-being, this group of workers shows specific characteristics that may favor the involvement in musculoskeletal disorders in their occupational routines. Objective To identify the prevalence of knee, low back, and disabling pain and their association with sociodemographic, nutritional, and occupational variables in instructors from gym clubs in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Method A census-type study was carried out with all professionals working at gym clubs (n=497). Crude and multivariable analyses were performed considering “sex”, “age”, “income”, “occupational physical activity”, “time working at the gym clubs” and “modality performed” as exposures. Outcomes were disabling pain, and knee and low back pain. Results The disabling pain affected 20.9% of the workers and was associated with the gym clubs modality performed and with the working longest time in the gym clubs. Half of the professionals related to low back pain in the previous year. This outcome was associated with the age (inversely), of females and Pilates instructors. The knee pains affected, in the last year, 41.5% of the professionals; there was a significant association between age (inversely) and time of work in the gym clubs. Conclusion The instructors had a high prevalence of the three outcomes analyzed. Those who have been working longer time at gym clubs, women, youngers, Pilates, or gymnastic instructors were at an increased risk of presenting the outcomes.