WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG PHYSICAL-THERAPISTS

Background and Purpose. Increasing evidence suggests that musculoskele tal disorders are common in workers in the United States health care i ndustry. Physical therapists, who commonly treat patients with these d isorders, are also at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMD) in the upper limbs and low back. The purpose of this study was t o determine the prevalence of WMD during a 12-month period and the job factors that may be associated with these disorders in physical thera pists. Subjects. A four-page questionnaire was mailed to physical ther apists (N = 1,160) who attended The University of Iowa between 1943 an d 1993. Nine hundred twenty-eight questionnaires were returned (80% re sponse rate) from physical therapists in 46 states. Methods. Based on a literature review and pilot study of physical therapists, a survey i nstrument was constructed consisting of a symptom survey, a job-factor survey, and various demographic information. Results. The highest pre valences of WMD among physical therapists were in the following anatom ical areas: low back (45%), wrist/hand (29.6%), upper back (28.7%), an d neck (24.7%). The job factor rated most likely to contribute to job- related musculoskeletal disorders was ''lifting or transferring depend ent patients.'' The prevalence of WMD in physical therapists also was affected by work setting, practice specialty, age of patient, and gend er of therapist. Conclusion and Discussion. Specific strategies should be developed to reduce WMD in the practice of physical therapy.