Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Portuguese Physiotherapists

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a common and increasing problem. Physiotherapists perform physically challenging and risky tasks for acute or cumulative injuries. A cross-sectional design was used for this study to identify the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Portuguese physiotherapists and to identify possible causes for the onset of disorders, the activities behind their origin, the implications to physiotherapist's work, the prevention strategies used by these professionals and to find possible associations between work-related complaints, gender and clinical placement. A two-part self administered instrument was used in this study, a demographic questionnaire and a standardized Nordic questionnaire. Information such as age, gender, clinical experience, number of patients treated daily, daily working hours, clinical placement, prevention strategies used, implications of symptoms in working experience and possible causes and activities for injuries and the occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in the last 12 months was gathered. Reported 12 month prevalence was 89,4%, younger and less experienced Physiotherapists were the most affected. Probable causes were the use of force when performing tasks, fatigue and working in awkward postures. The most reported patient-care activities related to the injuries were the use of manual therapy techniques and lifting and transferring patients. The presence of musculoskeletal disorders affected the work capacity of physiotherapists. The most affected anatomical regions were the neck and the lower back, female physiotherapists have higher prevalence of neck disorders, physiotherapists working in musculoskeletal placement have higher prevalence of upper back disorders and physiotherapists working in neurology placement have higher prevalence of disorders in the lower back (p <= 0,05). Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is high among the studied subjects and affects mainly younger, with less professional experience and female physiotherapists. Patient lifting and transferring and the use of manual therapy techniques are the most commonly pointed causes of injury.