title: Occupational low back pain in primary and high school teachers: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for low back pain (LBP) in teachers and to evaluate the association of individual and occupational characteristics with the prevalence of LBP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 586 asymptomatic teachers were randomly selected from 22 primary and high schools in Semnan city of Iran. Data on the personal, occupational characteristics, pain intensity, and functional disability as well as the prevalence and risk factors of LBP were collected using different questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Point, last month, last 6 months, annual, and lifetime prevalence rates of LBP were 21.8%, 26.3%, 29.6%, 31.1%, and 36.5%, respectively. The highest prevalence was obtained for the high school teachers. The prevalence of LBP was significantly associated with age, body mass index, job satisfaction, and length of employment (P < .05 in all instances). Prolonged sitting and standing, working hours with computer, and correcting examination papers were the most aggravating factors, respectively. Rest and participation in physical activity were found to be the most relieving factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of LBP in teachers appears to be high. High school teachers were more likely to experience LBP than primary school teachers. Factors such as age, body mass index, length of employment, job satisfaction, and work-related activities were significant factors associated with LBP in this teacher population.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Iranian Research Centre on Aging, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Fatemehehsani59@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mohseni Bandpei
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Student Research Committee, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran. Electronic address: Mohseni_Bandpei@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ehsani
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Spine Surgery, Hazrat Rasoul-e-Akram Teaching Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran. Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behtash
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Statistics, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marziyeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanipour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003906:Developing Countries; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: Low Back Pain; Prevalence; Risk Factors; School Teacher