PREVALENCE OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AND AWARENESS OF PHYSIOTHERAPY MANAGEMENT FOR THE ABOVE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Background: According to World Health Organization the global prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder ranges from 14% to as high as 42%.Teachers are generally prone to neck, shoulder and low back pain . The work tasks of school teachers often involve significant use of a head down posture, such as frequent reading and marking of assignments. According to World Health Organization working with a heavily bent, extended or twisted trunk can result in an overload of spinal structures and increased activity of the entire muscles. Objective: To find out the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and awareness of physiotherapy management among the primary school teachers. Study Design: Non-experimental. Subjects: 340 samples. Permission from the Institutional head along with the concerned teachers was taken initially to conduct the study. Prior information about the study was given.   The purpose of the study was explained to all the subjects to take part in the study. The subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then the “Extended Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire’’ and the “Physiotherapy Awareness questionnaire” was distributed to them and made sure that the questionnaire is fully completed Outcome Measures: Extended Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, physiotherapy awareness questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of Musculoskeletal discomfort were Neck (30.6%), Shoulder (30.3%) and knees(30.3%), lower back(28.8%) Upper back (25.0%). Ankle (21.5%), then Elbow(18.5%) Hip (16.8%). wrists/Hand(15.9%).The true answer rates for the questions on Physiotherapy awareness were 40%, 48% and 63% respectively Conclusion: There is a prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort among primary school teachers, only slightly less half (48%) of 340 teachers were believed to have had some knowledge of physiotherapy.