Table 2 Comparison between teachers with and without WRMSDs as regards their occupational characteristics and their adapted work- related postures

No of years in

teaching profession

Mean ± SD

t-test = 

-0.75

0.45

21.3 ± 5.9

20.97 ± 6.14

21.5 ± 5.75

No of students / classroom

 ≤ 35 students / class

65

21

36

55.4

29

44.6

χ² = 18.14

˂0.001

1.63 (1.23 – 2.16)

 > 35 students / class

245

79

67

27.3

178

72.7

Mean ± SD

t-test = 

-4.82

˂0.001

45.2 ± 10.7

41.21 ± 11.13

47.2 ± 10

No of classes

per week

 ≤ 20 classes / week

157

50.6

66

42

91

58

χ² = 11.1

0.001

1.31 (1.11 – 1.54)

 > 20 classes / week

153

49.4

37

24.2

116

75.8

Mean ± SD

t-test = 

-2.18

0.03

20.9 ± 6.5

19.76 ± 6.01

21.46 ± 6.68

Giving study groups after

the end of the

scholastic day

Yes

100

32.3

45

45

55

55

χ² = 9.22

0.002

1.32 (1.08 – 1.6)

No

210

67.7

58

27.6

152

72.4

The school furniture is comfortable

Yes

133

42.9

46

34.6

87

65.4

χ² = 0.19

0.66

No

177

57.1

57

32.2

120

67.8

Holding neck in a forward bent posture

for long periods

Yes

279

90

84

30.1

195

69.9

χ² = 12.23

˂0.001

1.81 (1.15 – 2.83)

No

31

10

19

61.3

12

38.7

Holding neck in a backward bent posture

for long periods

Yes

67

21.6

20

29.9

47

70.1

χ² = 0.44

0.51

No

243

78.4

83

34.2

160

65.8

Working with hands above shoulder level

for long periods

Yes

186

60

51

27.4

135

72.6

χ² = 7.07

0.008

1.25 (1.05 – 1.49)

No

124

40

52

41.9

72

58.1

Holding wrist bent

for long periods

Yes

215

69.4

64

29.8

151

70.2

χ² = 3.78

0.052

No

95

30.6

39

41.1

56

58.9

Standing

for long periods

Yes

208

67.1

60

28.8

148

71.2

χ² = 5.47

0.02

1.23 (1.02 – 1.48)

No

102

32.9

43

42.2

59

57.8

Sitting

for long periods

Yes

69

22.3

16

23.2

53

76.8

χ² = 4.03

0.04

1.2 (1.02 – 1.41)

No

241

77.7

87

36.1

154

63.9

Working in

a bent posture

for long periods

Yes

218

70.3

61

28

157

72

χ² = 9.11

0.003

1.33 (1.08 – 1.63)

No

92

29.7

42

45.7

50

54.3

Working in a twisted posture for long periods

Yes

106

34.2

28

26.4

78

73.6

χ² = 3.37

0.07

No

204

65.8

75

36.8

129

63.2