Thumb Pain in Physiotherapists Practicing Manual Therapy: Prevalence and Consequences

Abstract

Background: Injury pertaining to work around thumb area has become a well-recognized issue for physiotherapists who perform diverse manual techniques in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. This may result in alteration in implementation of treatment technique, changing in choice of treatment technique, reduction in working hour, reduction in number of patients being treated, quitting the jobs etc as a result of the work-related condition. Hence this problem cannot be ignored. Objective: The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thumb pain in Physiotherapists practicing Manual therapy in Delhi-NCR in India and to determine its impact on the work. Methods: Cross sectional survey of 118 Physiotherapists practicing Manual therapy in Hospitals and manual therapy clinics in Delhi-NCR in India was conducted and descriptive data for age, gender, handedness, years of experience, working hours per week, manual therapy techniques used, thumb pain measurement on VAS and its consequences on work were obtained. Results: The prevalence of thumb pain was observed as 38.98% that had following impact on work practice of physiotherapists: 32.61% changed the implementation of their treatment techniques, 32.61% changed the choice of their treatment techniques, 15.22% decreased their number of patients for treatment in daily routine, 10.87% reduced their working hours and 8.70% decreased the use of manual technique. Conclusions: In this study, incidence of thumb pain was low (38.98%) in Physiotherapists who practice manual therapy and the most important consequence was change in choices and implementation of treatment technique.