Risk Factors for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Physiotherapists: A Literature Review

Abstract

The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) among physiotherapists (PTs) is as high as 91%. These WRMDs directly impact their health, leading to acute and recurring injuries and chronic disabilities. Although the prevalence is high, the risk factors are not clearly understood. The objective of the review was to understand these risk factors for WRMDs among PTs. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases. A search strategy was devised and articles were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were then extracted from the eligible studies and summarized. A total number of studies included were ten, of which seven were cross-sectional studies, two were a combination of focus group discussion and interview, and one was a nonexperimental cohort study. The literature review highlights the following risk factors: transferring and lifting patients, performing manual therapy techniques, working in static postures, responding to unanticipated movement by patients, repetitive tasks, bending, twisting, continuing to work even while injured, treating an excessive number of patients in a single day, inappropriate work scheduling, and so on. However, future studies must focus on a comprehensive assessment of WRMD's risk factors and developing reliable and valid PT-specific tools among PTs.