Abstract
BackgroundThis study was planned to collect data about causes, prevalence and responses to work-related musculoskeletal disorders reported by physiotherapists employed in Izmir, Turkey.MethodA two-page survey with closed ended questions was used as the data collected method. This survey was distributed to 205 physiotherapists working in Izmir, Turkey, and 120 physiotherapists answered. Questions included occupational history of physiotherapists and musculoskeletal symptoms, special areas, tasks, job-related risk factors, injury prevention strategies, and responses to injury.ResultsEighty-five percent of the physiotherapists have had a musculoskeletal injury once or more in their lifetime. Injuries have been occurred mostly in low back (26 %), hand-wrist (18 %), shoulders (14 %) and neck (12 %). The highest risk factor in causing the injury was transferring the patient at 15%. Sixty-nine percent of physiotherapists visited a physician for their injury and sixty-seven percent of the respondents indicated that they had not limited their patient contact time as a result to their injuryConclusionsAccording to the results of this study, the rate of musculoskeletal disorders in physiotherapists in Izmir-Turkey has been found to be high due to their profession. Respondents felt that a change in work habits was required in order to decrease the risk of another injury.
Highlights
This study was planned to collect data about causes, prevalence and responses to work-related musculoskeletal disorders reported by physiotherapists employed in Izmir, Turkey
A work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMD) is defined as a musculoskeletal injury that results from a work-related event
Physical therapists routinely perform manual therapy, such as soft-tissue mobilization, which means that the upper limb is exposed to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal and neurovascular disorders [1,2,6,7,8,13,14]
Summary
This study was planned to collect data about causes, prevalence and responses to work-related musculoskeletal disorders reported by physiotherapists employed in Izmir, Turkey. Physical therapists routinely perform manual therapy, such as soft-tissue mobilization, which means that the upper limb is exposed to risk factors associated with musculoskeletal and neurovascular disorders [1,2,6,7,8,13,14]. These professionals routinely perform activities that involve transferring a patient (from exercise mat to chair, to parallel bar etc), assisting with activities on the exercise mat, and lifting and using cumbersome equipment [1,2,615]. These work tasks put therapists at risk for both acute and cumulative musculoskeletal pain
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