Background: Preschool teachers perform various teaching and childcare activities that require frequent bending, squatting, kneeling, lifting and carrying children, as well as prolonged sitting on low-height furniture or the floor. These occupational demands may contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms, particularly low back pain.(¹˒²˒¹⁴˒²³˒²⁴) Previous studies have reported a considerable prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among teachers and preschool workers.(⁵˒⁹˒²⁷) However, limited literature is available regarding the functional disability associated with low back pain specifically among preschool teachers. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess low back pain disability among preschool teachers using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. 

Method: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 124 female preschool teachers with low back pain. Participants aged 25–50 years who had a minimum of two years of preschool teaching experience, worked for at least two hours per day and at least four days per week were included. Participants with neurological, cardiovascular or other musculoskeletal conditions were excluded. Data regarding demographic characteristics and pain were collected, and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire was administered through an interview method. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, including mean, median, mode and standard deviation.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 38.61 ± 7.28 years, and the mean teaching experience was 8.23 ± 5.16 years. The reported mean pain intensity at rest was 3.07 ± 1.41, while the reported mean pain intensity during activity was 3.07 ± 2.20. The mean ODI score was 12.9 ± 4.32, and the mean ODI percentage was 25.9 ± 8.70%. The largest proportion of participants had ODI scores between 11–15. Moderate disability was the predominant disability category among the participants.