Association between Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders and Upper Cross Syndrome among Teachers, and the Effects of NASM Corrective Exercises along with Ergonomic Intervention on their Upper-extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the association between upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders and upper cross syndrome (UCS) among teachers as well as the effects of NASM exercises and ergonomic intervention on their upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders.

The Nordic Questionnaire was used for determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and the New York Test was used for determining the prevalence of UCS among 269 teachers. Among those tested, 23 participants were identified as the sample of the study, and then they were divided into an experimental group (12 participants, age 45.20 ± 8.1 years, height 178.83 ± 6.5 cm, and weight 78.3 ± 13.08 kg) and a control group (11 participants, age 44.1 ± 7.8 years, height 175.83 ± 7 cm, and weight 77.9 ± 13 kg) to go through 12 weeks of NASM exercises along with ergonomic intervention. In this study, chi-square and Wilcoxon tests were used.

The prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders for neck was 53%, for shoulders was 41%, for back was 39%, and the prevalence rate of UCS was 43%. The results of the test showed a significant relationship between upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders and the UCS (p < 0.05). Moreover, the intragroup and intergroup results of the participants showed a significant decrease in musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulders, and back after administering the interventions (p < 0.05).

The findings of the study showed that NASM exercises and ergonomic intervention (as an intervention-exercise protocol) decrease upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders among teachers.