Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among teachers in China: a scoping review of prevalence and associated factors

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a prominent occupational health issue among teachers. Their high prevalence not only undermines teaching effectiveness but also impairs teachers’ quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with WMSDs among teachers in China. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic search was performed in eight electronic databases—China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science—for studies published from inception to July 2025. Two researchers independently performed literature screening and data extraction. The extracted data were then synthesised using thematic content analysis. A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 17,702 teachers across 16 regions in China. The samples covered special education, kindergarten, primary, secondary, and university teachers, with primary and secondary school teachers accounting for the largest proportion. Most included studies were cross-sectional in design. The neck, neck-shoulder, and low back were the most frequently affected sites, with 12-month prevalence ranging from 37.4% to 68.2% for the neck, 29.3% to 62.43% for the neck-shoulder region, and 25.04% to 49% for the low back. Quality assessment using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality checklist yielded a mean score of 6.46. Standardised scales were relatively common, whereas some self-designed questionnaires lacked reliability and validity testing. The associated factors were grouped into three domains: individual, occupational, and psychosocial. Individual factors included age, gender, teaching experience, body mass index, past medical history, ethnicity, physical activity, and sleep quality. Occupational factors comprised prolonged static postures, workload, student care requirements, rest breaks, ergonomic support, and teaching level. Psychosocial factors covered mental health, job satisfaction, colleague support, and career prospects. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the factors associated with WMSDs among teachers in China, offering a basis for developing targeted prevention strategies and support for higher-prevalence teacher populations. Future research should employ standardised assessment tools and conduct high-quality longitudinal studies to evaluate the effectiveness of preventive interventions.