PREVALENCE OF TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE TIGHTNESS DUE TO POOR POSTURE IN TEACHERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are a common occupational health issue, with trapezius muscle tightness frequently observed among teachers due to prolonged standing, repetitive tasks, and sustained head-down postures. Such conditions contribute to cervical spine stiffness, pain, and reduced quality of life. Despite being highly prevalent, limited data are available from Pakistan, particularly regarding teachers in Karachi, who often face challenging working conditions and heavy workloads. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of trapezius muscle tightness among school teachers in Karachi and to identify associated risk factors including age, teaching experience, weekly working hours, and pain intensity. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed from August 2024 to January 2025. A total of 383 teachers, aged 20–45 years, were recruited through convenience sampling. Participants were assessed using validated tools including the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain severity and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) for functional disability. Demographic and occupational characteristics such as gender, teaching experience, and working hours were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests applied to explore associations between risk factors and trapezius tightness. Results: Of the 383 participants, 318 (83.0%) were female and 65 (17.0%) were male. Disability on the NDI was observed in 232 participants (60.6%), while 151 (39.4%) reported no disability. Pain severity was widely distributed, with 132 (34.5%) reporting moderate pain, 48 (12.5%) severe pain, and 29 (7.6%) very severe pain. Significant associations were found between higher disability scores and advancing age (p = 0.02), greater weekly workload (p < 0.001), and increased pain intensity (p < 0.001). Teaching experience and gender showed no significant associations. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate a high prevalence of trapezius muscle tightness among teachers, strongly influenced by workload, age, and pain severity. These results highlight the urgent need for ergonomic interventions, structured rest breaks, and posture correction programs to safeguard teachers’ musculoskeletal health and improve their quality of life.