Working Postures and Physiotherapy Students

Abstract

<h2>Summary</h2> A direct observational study was undertaken of second- and third-year physiotherapy students from one physiotherapy school performing clinical work. The Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) was used to collect the information about the students' working postures. This allows the calculation of action categories which give an indication of the need for corrective measures to alleviate the postural load. Particular note was taken of postures assumed during patient transfers and the number of transfers observed. An immense variety of working postures was observed in the study. There were no significant differences between the working postures adopted by the two years of students. On certain clinical placements the students demonstrated significantly greater numbers of hazardous working postures. Only standing transfers were observed in sufficient numbers for analysis, and all of these achieved an OWAS action category rating of two or more (indicating potential for harm to the musculoskeletal system). There was no significant difference between the scores for the two years of students. OWAS provided a simple posture analysis but greater detail is needed about the number of static postures assumed. The similarities between the working postures of the two years of students suggest that more emphasis needs to be placed on safe working postures during clinical practice.