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Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Physical Therapists

BE Bork, PT, is Lecturer, Physical Therapy Graduate Program, The University of Iowa, 2600 Steindler Bldg, Iowa City, IA 52242 (USA) (byron-bork@uiowa.edu).
TM Cook, PhD, PT, is Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, and Physical Therapy Graduate Program, The University of Iowa.
JC Rosecrance, PhD, PT, is Research Scientist and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Graduate Program, The University of Iowa.
KA Engelhardt, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Midway Hospital, 1700 University Ave, St Paul, MN 55104.
MEJ Thomason, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital, 933 E Pierce St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.
IJ Wauford, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center, Bluffton, OH 45817.
RK Worley, PT, is Staff Physical Therapist, Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo, IA 50702.
Ms Engelhardt, Ms Thomason, Ms Wauford, and Ms Worley were physical therapy graduate students at The University of Iowa when this research was conducted in partial fulfillment of their degree requirements.

Background and Purpose. Increasing evidence suggests that musculoskeletal disorders are common in workers in the United States health care industry. Physical therapists, who commonly treat patients with these disorders, are also at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMD) in the upper limbs and low back. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of WMD during a 12-month period and the job factors that may be associated with these disorders in physical therapists. Subjects. A four-page questionnaire was mailed to physical therapists (N=1,160) who attended The University of Iowa between 1943 and 1993. Nine hundred twenty-eight questionnaires were returned (80% response rate) from physical therapists in 46 states. Methods. Based on a literature review and pilot study of physical therapists, a survey instrument was constructed consisting of a symptom survey, a job-factor survey, and various demographic information. Results. The highest prevalences of WMD among physical therapists were in the following anatomical areas: low back (45%), wrist/hand (29.6%), upper back (28.7%), and neck (24.7%). The job factor rated most likely to contribute to job-related musculoskeletal disorders was "lifting or transferring dependent patients." The prevalence of WMD in physical therapists also was affected by work setting, practice specialty, age of patient, and gender of therapist. Conclusion and Discussion. Specific strategies should be developed to reduce WMD in the practice of physical therapy.

Key Words: Musculoskeletal disorders • Occupational injuries • Physical therapy

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