Determinants of neck symptoms among university professors during Covid 19 pandemics

Neck pain is one of the most prevalent painful conditions among professors. Covid-19 has led to significant changes in work organization, with remote work becoming predominant even after the pandemic. Home office obliged to use information technologies for a longer duration, give classes at distance, and adjust workstations with consequences on neck musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). The aim of this study was to characterize the determinants of neck MSS among university professors from Brazilian Universities, in two moments, during Covid 19 pandemics. Two cross-sectional studies were based on an online survey applied to university professors in 2020–21 and 2021–22. The samples included 220 professors in the first moment and 180 in the second one. A logistic regression model considering Cervical Musculoskeletal Symptoms in the last 12 months as the dependent variable was adjusted for each data collection period. According to the model for the period 2020–21, the log of the odds of a professor who has neck MSS in the last 12 months was positively related with having multisite musculoskeletal symptoms, duration of work in a seated posture superior to 6 h, teleworking or using a hybrid format, having two or more dependents, self-report diseases and stress perception. For the period 2021–2022, was positively related with having multisite musculoskeletal symptoms, and age over 50 years; negatively related with the mean duration of work per week. The knowledge of protective and risk factors has an important role in the definition of preventive strategies and the design of home office by the universities. •High prevalence of neck symptoms among university professors during covid-19.•Previous history of symptoms in other sites is among individual factors that trigger neck symptoms.•Hours spent sitting per day, family dependents management and stress contributed to higher percentages of neck symptoms.•Decisions on work in person or telework full or part time impact neck symptoms.•Prevention efforts must be guided by evidence about risk factors for neck symptoms.