The Impact of Physical Therapy Delivered Ergonomics in the Workplace: A Narrative Review

Abstract

With the emergence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and the associated high cost of injuredworkers, physical therapists are in a unique position to help employers manage these concerns throughinjury prevention programs, education, ergonomics, on-site treatment to include exercise instruction andmanual intervention, and return to work programs. The purpose of this literature review is to highlightthe effectiveness a physical therapist can have on employee health and the prevention of work-relatedmusculoskeletal disorders. In terms of results, when ergonomic interventions were applied, employers sawdecreased injuries, increased productivity, decreased costs associated with direct and in-direct costs of workrelatedinjuries, improvements in return-to-work performance, and decrease absenteeism in employees.However, as the interventions described in this report were generally found to be quite heterogeneous, itshould also be recognized that general conclusions about the effectiveness of these interventions should bedone with care. It is important to ensure that payers, employers and employees are aware of the crucial rolephysical therapists can play in occupational health. Physical therapists also need to advocate for their role inoccupational health and offer expert care to workers in a non-traditional manner.