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Maurício T.P.1, Cavalheiro L.M.1, Gonçalves R.S.1
1Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Coimbra, Portugal
Background: Physiotherapy is a physically demanding profession that requires a high level of physical fitness to perform their inherent functions and activities, and it is related to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders have negative implications in terms of work ability, productivity and associated costs.
Purpose: To characterize the physiotherapists in terms of health-related physical fitness, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and work ability; to evaluate the relationship between health-related physical fitness, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and work ability; to evaluate the relationship between previous levels of health-related physical fitness, change in musculoskeletal disorders and change in work ability.
Methods: A longitudinal study was performed in two phases separated by 12 weeks. At the first phase, the various components of health-related physical fitness (body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility) were evaluated with a battery of validated tests recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine; the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was evaluated with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire; and, the work ability was evaluated with the Work Ability Index. In the second phase, musculoskeletal injuries and work ability were reassessed. The sample consisted of 98 physiotherapists working in the central region of Portugal.
Results: On average, physiotherapists had a very poor physical fitness related to body composition, a reasonable to high level of cardiorespiratory fitness, a weak muscular strength, an arms muscles´ endurance in need of improvement, a well below average level of abdominal muscles´ endurance and a reasonable to very good flexibility. Physiotherapists had a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the neck (67.5%), low back (59.2%), shoulders (53.1%) and wrists/hands (45.9%). Nevertheless they had a good to excellent work ability. Several correlations between health-related physical fitness and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders were observed (p 0.05). Physiotherapists with musculoskeletal disorders in various regions had worst work ability (p 0.05). Twelve weeks after the first evaluation, those who no longer had activity limitations in the neck had a better flexibility and those who no longer had problems in the elbows had a better body composition (p 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The Portuguese physiotherapists need to improve their own health-related physical fitness and to prevent their own musculoskeletal disorders.
Implications: The Portuguese physiotherapists should be involved in programs to improve health-related physical fitness and to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
Funding acknowledgements: Nothing to declare.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics
Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Review Board of Coimbra Health School.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
