The sensation of pain is frequent in teachers and its relationship with the practice of free-time physical activity still needs more scientific evidence. This study analyzed the association between free-time physical activity and pain symptoms experienced by teachers during the day and at bedtime. In this cross-sectional study, data were obtained through individual interviews and the fulfillment of an activity diary by teachers from a city located in southern Brazil. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables. Among the 141 teachers included, pain perception was reported during the day by 66.7% and at bedtime by 66.0%. Analyses adjusted for sex, age, body mass index and time spent watching television indicated that practicing more than 240 minutes/week of free-time physical activity was associated with a lower likelihood of reported pain during the day (odds ratio, OR=0.18; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.06-0.54) and at bedtime (OR=0.28; 95% CI: 0.10-0.79) compared to practicing ≤60 minutes/week of free-time physical activity. These associations lost statistical significance after the additional adjustment for depressive symptoms. In summary, this study showed that teachers who practiced more than 240 minutes/week of physical activity in free-time were less likely to report pain during the day and at bedtime. Depressive symptoms had an important confounding effect on this association. A multidisciplinary approach can optimize preventive strategies for pain prevention and management through health education programs in the workplace.
Keywords: Activity diary; Pain; Physical activity; Teacher.
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