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Seniority Versus Age in Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain Among Preschool Educators
Nedonya Abreek- Sarhan1, David Ezra, Bilal Sarhan
1From the Department of Physical Therapy, Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel (N.A.-S., L.K., D.A.-N.); School of Nursing Sciences, Academic College of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Jaffa, Israel (D.E.); AposTherapy, Ashkelon, Israel (B.S.); Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel (D.A.-N.); and Department of Physical Therapy, Zefat Academic College, Zefat, Israel (D.A.-N.).
Professional seniority, not age, significantly increases the risk of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in preschool educators. This highlights the need for ergonomic improvements to address cumulative effects on neck, hand/wrist, and lower back pain.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ergonomics
- Public Health
Background:
- Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a prevalent issue among early childhood educators.
- Understanding the primary drivers of MSP, such as professional seniority versus chronological age, is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between professional seniority and age with the prevalence of MSP in preschool educators.
- To identify specific body regions most affected by professional seniority.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 310 preschool teachers and assistants.
- Data collected using the Modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, demographic, and job-related variables.
Main Results:
- Age-adjusted professional seniority was significantly associated with increased odds of MSP in the neck (OR = 1.09, p = .015), wrist/hand (OR = 1.17, p < .001), and lower back (OR = 1.08, p = .040).
- Each additional year of seniority increased the odds of neck pain by 9.2%, hand/wrist pain by 17.2%, and lower back pain by 7.6%.
Conclusions:
- Professional seniority is a stronger predictor of MSP in preschool educators than chronological age.
- The cumulative impact of professional seniority significantly contributes to the development of MSP in key areas.
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