Consequences of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on the increase in perceived pain of students and professors from higher education institutions: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Social distancing was implemented worldwide due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This impacted physical activity levels and increased the time spent in sedentary behaviors which may contributed to the emergence of increased musculoskeletal complaints. OBJECTIVE: To assess the consequences of social distancing for the increase in perceived pain of students and professors from higher education institutions. METHODS: One thousand two hundred and fifty-four participants responded to an online survey containing sociodemographic information and questions related to daily habits, physical activity profile, and musculoskeletal pain before and during the pandemic. Levels of concentration, nervousness, productivity, and visual fatigue were also assessed. The primary outcome was presence of perceived pain before and during the pandemic, dichotomized between those with and without increased pain during the pandemic. RESULTS: Perceived pain increased during the pandemic (p < 0.001) and was associated with females (p = 0.023; PR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.02-1.32), income up to one minimum wage (p = 0.039; PR = 1.20; 95%CI = 1.01-1.42), no physical activity practice (p = 0.006; PR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.06-1.40), long time in sedentary behavior (p = 0.013; PR = 3.07; 95%CI = 1.27-7.43), and electronic device usage for > 6 hours (p = 0.041; PR = 1.44; 95%CI = 1.02-2.06). Nervousness (p = 0.001) and visual fatigue (p = 0.001) increased, whereas concentration (p = 0.001) and productivity (p = 0.001) reduced during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced physical activity practice and increased time in sedentary behavior and electronic device usage during the pandemic were associated with increased musculoskeletal pain in students and professors from higher education institutions. Decreased concentration and productivity and increased nervousness and visual fatigue were also observed during the pandemic.