A Pilot Research Assessing the risk of Musculoskeletal Discomforts among Physiotherapists caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions

Authors

  • Mohammed Aqeel Althubaiti Physical Therapist, Armed Forces Center For Health Rehabilitation, Taif City
  • Abeer Lafi Almutairi Physical Therapist, Armed Forces Center For Health Rehabilitation, Taif City

Keywords:

physiotherapists, musculoskeletal discomfort, neurological conditions, ergonomic practices, work-related issues, self-reported, pain, awkward postures, workplace adjustments, ergonomic interventions

Abstract

Backround Physical interactions that are vigorous and lengthy are often necessary forphysiotherapists to play a key role in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological disorders. Aim Thisstudy aims to assess the risk of musculoskeletal discomfort among physiotherapists engaged in thecare of patients with neurological conditions. Methods A thorough survey was carried out amongphysiotherapists in a range of healthcare environments to gather information on ergonomic practises,work-related issues, and self-reported musculoskeletal discomfort. Results Results show thatmusculoskeletal pain is rather frequent among physiotherapists, with the neck, shoulders, and lowerback being the most commonly affected areas. Awkward postures, insufficient breaks during patientcare sessions, and repetitive activities are some of the factors that lead to these discomforts. Workplaceadjustments and ergonomic interventions are mentioned as viable tactics to reduce these risks.Conclusion This study emphasises the significance of physiotherapists' musculoskeletal issues inorder to protect their health and, in turn, the standard of care given to patients with neurologicalproblems.

References

Aaron KA, Vaughan J, Gupta R, Ali N-E-S, Beth AH, Moore JM, et al. The risk of ergonomic injury across surgical specialties. PLoS ONE. (2021) 16:e0244868. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244868

Farhang Dehghan S, Fallah Madvari R, Akhlaghi Pirposhte E, Mohammad Hosseini A, Laal F. Musculoskeletal disorder and its correlation with the awareness of ergonomics factors in nurses working at some university hospitals, Tehran, Iran (2018). J Occup Health Epidemiol. (2019) 8:37–42. doi: 10.29252/johe.8.1.37

Milhem M, Kalichman L, Ezra D, Alperovitch-Najenson D. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: a comprehensive narrative review. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. (2016) 29:735–47. doi: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00620

Epstein S, Sparer EH, Tran BN, Ruan QZ, Dennerlein JT, Singhal D, et al. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among surgeons and interventionalists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Surg. (2018) 153:e174947–e174947. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4947

Adegoke B OA, Akodu AK, Oyeyemi AL. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian physiotherapists. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. (2008) 9:1–9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-9-112

Chung SH, Her JG, Ko T, Ko J, Kim H, Lee JS, et al. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Korean physical therapists. J Phys Therapy Sci. (2013) 25:55–9. doi: 10.1589/jpts.25.55

Passier L, McPhail S. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders amongst therapists in physically demanding roles: qualitative analysis of risk factors and strategies for prevention. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. (2011) 12:1–9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-12-24

Ahmad MM, Khan L, Niazi MN, Fatima H. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapist living in Pakistan: cross-sectional survey. Pak J Rehabil. (2022) 11:155–63. doi: 10.36283/pjr.zu.11.1/019

Nordin NAM, Leonard JH, Thye NC. Work-related injuries among physiotherapists in public hospitals-a Southeast Asian picture. Clinics. (2011) 66:373–8. doi: 10.1590/s1807-59322011000300002

Obembe A, Onigbinde A, Johnson O, Emechete A, Oyinlola M. Occupational injuries among physical therapists in South-West, Nigeria. Niger J Med Rehabil. (2009) 13:25–30. doi: 10.34058/njmr.v13i1.2.38

Glover W, McGregor A, Sullivan C, Hague J. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders affecting members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy. (2005) 91:138–

Chen CY, Lu SR, Yang SY, Liang FW, Wang JJ, Ho CH, et al. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists in Taiwan. Medicine. (2022) 101:e28885. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000028885

Franco G, Fusetti L. Bernardino Ramazzini's early observations of the link between musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic factors. Appl Ergon. (2004) 35:67–70. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2003.08.001

Sadeghi Naeini H, Kaviani Z, Karuppiah K, Sadeghi M. Prevention of occupational traumas by developing an ergonomic design and modifying farmers' postures in walnut gardens of Tuyserkan, Iran. Arch Trauma Res. (2020) 9:24–9. doi: 10.4103/atr.atr_48_19

Armijo PR, Flores L, Pokala B, Huang C-K, Siu K-C, Oleynikov D. Gender equity in ergonomics: does muscle effort in laparoscopic surgery differ between men and women? Surg Endosc. (2022) 36:396–401. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08295-3

Neumann J, Angrick C, Roth AJ, Neumuth T. Ergonomic assessment of operating room setups for orthopedic reconstructive surgery. In: 18. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Computer und Roboter-assistierte Chirurgie (CURAC). Reutlingen (2019).

Rodman C, Kelly N, Niermeyer W, Banks L, Onwuka A, Mason E, et al. Quantitative assessment of surgical ergonomics in otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. (2020) 163:1186–93. doi: 10.1177/0194599820932851

Yoopat P, Pitakwong P, Vanwonterghem K. Assessing the physiological strain of physical therapists according to work experience: a cross-sectional study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. (2020) 24:253–62. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.05.033

Zhang Q, Xie Q, Liu H, Sheng B, Xiong S, Zhang Y, et al. pilot study of biomechanical and ergonomic analyses of risky manual tasks in physical therapy. Int J Ind Ergon. (2022) 89:103298. doi: 10.1016/j.ergon.2022.103298

Hignett S, McAtamney L. Rapid entire body assessment (REBA). Appl Ergon. (2000) 31:201–5. doi: 10.1016/S0003-6870(99)00039-3

INSST: NTP. 601: Evaluación de las Condiciones de T rabajo: Carga Postural. Método REBA; Instituto de Seguridad e Higiene del Trabajo: Madrid, Spain (2001).

Okuyucu K, Hignett S, Gyi D, Doshani A. Midwives' thoughts about musculoskeletal disorders with an evaluation of working tasks. Appl Ergon. (2021) 90:103263. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103263

Hernández CO, Li S, Astudillo RJ, Rodríguez IM. What affects musculoskeletal risk in nursing assistants and orderlies? Work. (2022) (Preprint):1–11. doi: 10.3233/WOR-210651

Rafeemanesh E, Jafari Z, Kashani FO, Rahimpour F. A study on job postures and musculoskeletal illnesses in dentists. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. (2013) 26:615–20. doi: 10.2478/s13382-013-0133-z

Carneiro P, Martins J, Torres M. Musculoskeletal disorder risk assessment in home care nurses. Work. (2015) 51:657–65. doi: 10.3233/WOR-152024

Tölgyessy M, Dekan M, Chovanec L. Skeleton tracking accuracy and precision evaluation of Kinect V1, Kinect V2, and the azure kinect. Appl Sci. (2021) 11:5756. doi: 10.3390/app11125756

Manghisi VM, Uva AE, Fiorentino M, Bevilacqua V, Trotta GF, Monno G. Real time RULA assessment using Kinect v2 sensor. Appl Ergon. (2017) 65:481–91. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.02.015

Plantard P, Shum HPH, Pierres A-SL, Multon F. Validation of an ergonomic assessment method using Kinect data in real workplace conditions. Appl Ergon. (2017) 65:562–9. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.10.015

Reyes-Zárate GG, Garcia-Cavazos I. Ergonomic assessment using kinect. Int J Inform Technol Secur. (2020) 12:13–22.

Downloads

Published

2023-10-01

How to Cite

[1]
“A Pilot Research Assessing the risk of Musculoskeletal Discomforts among Physiotherapists caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions”, JASRAE, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 235–239, Oct. 2023, Accessed: Jun. 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://ignited.in/jasrae/article/view/14542

How to Cite

[1]
“A Pilot Research Assessing the risk of Musculoskeletal Discomforts among Physiotherapists caring for Patients with Neurological Conditions”, JASRAE, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 235–239, Oct. 2023, Accessed: Jun. 29, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://ignited.in/jasrae/article/view/14542