Bekhet A.H.1, Helmy N.1
1Cairo University, Faculty of Physical Therapy, pt.SRS (Physical Therapy Student Research Society), Cairo, Egypt
Background: Physical therapists are knowledgeable in treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries;however, they havehigh rate occupational musculoskeletal injuries because Physical therapy profession requires effort that may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. No previous studies among physical therapists have been reported to compare between seniors and juniors related to this point.
Purpose: We aim to assess the prevalence , risk factors ,type and sites of musculoskeletal injuries mong physical therapist's seniors versus internship.
Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in faculty of physical therapy Cairo university Prevalence ,riskfactors ,type and sites of work related musculoskeletal injuries were assessed using self-administered questionnaire with closed-ended questions. Senior therapists was defined as a physical therapist with more than 5 years of clinical work experience. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0for Windows.
Results: The sample was 106 physical therapists (Junior = 72; senior = 34), the mean age of senior therapistswas 30.1 (SD 6.3) years and junior therapists were 22.8 (SD 2.4). Female subjects constituted 83.9% of the studied sample. The mean hours of contact with patients was higher among junior therapists 6.4 (SD 2.6) vs. 5.7 (SD 2.1) among senior therapists.The prevalence of a musculoskeletal injury, once or more in their lifetime, was significantly higher among senior therapists(86% vs. 66.7%; p = 0.04). The highest risk factor in increasing the symptoms of the injury among junior therapists was maintaining a position for a prolonged period of time at 28% while performing manual therapy techniques was the highest riskfactor among senior therapists at 32%. 53% of senior therapists have limited their patient contact time as a result of theirinjury in comparison to 25% of junior therapists (p = 0.09),The highest site of injury reported was to the low back, 38%Juniors versus 55.9%seniors while the highest injury type reported was muscle strain,27.8%Juniors versus 41.2%seniors.
Conclusion(s): this cross sectional study shows that the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal injuries, once or more in their lifetime, is significantly higher among senior therapists.
Implications: -
Funding acknowledgements: no Funding acknowledgements
Topic: Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing
Ethics approval: the study was approved by institutional approval board of physical therapy faculty,Cairo university.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
