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Physical activity, musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular risk factors in male physical education teachers
1Institute of Sport Pedagogy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia. epihl@ut.ee
Background:
To compare the occupational and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) patterns, musculoskeletal disorders and cardiovascular disease risk factors among the physical education teachers (PETs) and their fellow workers (controls).
Design:
a case-control study.
Participants:
86 male PETs and 102 other teachers aged 51-72 years old.
Measures:
the questionnaire was applied to determine the occupational activity and LTPA level, musculoskeletal disorders, general health status and lifestyle patterns. Anthropometric parameters, resting blood pressure values, and physical working capacity were measured. Concentrations of total cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were determined and the HDL-C/CHOL ratio was calculated.
Results:
PETs had maintained their physically active lifestyle - 59.3% of them were regularly active in their leisure time. The results of the questionnaire did not reveal any major between-group differences in their health status and health habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.). PETs had a significantly lower adjusted risk of overweight (OR 0.63, 95% CI, 0.21-0.94), hypertension (OR 0.25, 95% CI, 0.13-0.47) and all musculoskeletal disorders (during the past year) (OR 0.52, 95% CI, 0.29-0.94) in comparison with the control group.
Conclusions:
It is reasonable to assume from our study that long-term physical activity is associated with a lower risk of overweight, hypertension and musculoskeletal disorders in PETs in comparison with sedentary fellow workers.
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