Physiotherapists working in clinics have increased risk for new-onset spine disorders

Abstract

Health care professionals are known to have a high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. However, the information on the risk of new-onset spine-related musculoskeletal disorders (SRMDs) in health care professionals is insufficient. This study aimed to investigate new-onset spine disorder associations among physical, occupational, and pharmacy health care professionals working in different workplaces.Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database for registered medical personnel claims from 2000 to 2011 was analyzed. An age- and sex-matched longitudinal cohort study of 7448 subjects (1682 physiotherapists, 1682 occupational therapists [OTs], and 3724 pharmacists) with or without new-onset spine disorders was conducted. The hazard ratios for the development of new-onset spine disorders were estimated among these 3 groups.The overall percentage of new-onset SRMD for physiotherapists is 32.12. The median time from obtaining a registered license to developing SRMD is 1.94 years. The log-rank test showed that physiotherapists have the least possibility of having a SRMD-free rate (P < 0.0001). The Cox model showed that physiotherapists have a higher risk of new-onset SRMD (hazard ratio: 1.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.48–1.84, P < 0.0001) compared with OTs and pharmacists. Physiotherapists working in clinics have a 2.40-fold increased risk of developing SRMD (95% confidence interval: 1.97–2.92, P < 0.0001) relative to OTs and pharmacists.This may be the first study regarding new-onset SRMD in physiotherapists based on a powerful nationwide population-based database. We conclude that working in clinics is a potential risk for new-onset SRMD in physiotherapists. Therefore, we suggest that physiotherapists should pay more attention to this issue to prevent the development of spine disorders.

Incidence of low back pain and potential risk factors among pharmacists

“…[ 20 ] Furthermore, the symptoms of LBP were found to have the greatest occurrence (53.10% vs 55.50%), indicating that LBP is the most frequently seen MSD. [ 20 ] Another study revealed that the mean time from obtaining a registered license to developing a SRMD is 1.41 to 5.57 years, [ 21 ] which is similar to our result of 4.25 years.…”

“…A 12-year population-based study of medical staff revealed that the incidence of spine-related MSDs (SRMDs; a symptom of LBP) of hospital pharmacists is 19.60%, which is between those for PTs (32.12%) and OTs (16.97%). [ 21 ] However, that study enrolled medical staff aged between 18 and 65 years, which covered a wider age range than our study, therefore its incidences were expected to be higher than the results of our study. Besides, higher incidences of LBP and/or SRMDs were also found in populations aged above 40 years in previously published studies.…”

“…LBP is commonly observed among health care professionals, and many studies have explored the incidence of this condition in nurses, dentists, sonographers, and surgeons. [ 14 – 18 ] Some studies have used pharmacists as a reference group in the exploration of the risk ratio of MSDs among dentists, physiotherapists (PTs), and occupational therapists (OTs) [ 19 – 21 ] ; however, the relationship between pharmacists and MSDs has been rarely investigated. A wide variety of causative factors, including the physical burden of work, ergonomics hazards, demographic factors, as well as psychosocial factors may be responsible for musculoskeletal symptoms in pharmacists working in hospitals.…”

Assessing the Work Activities Related to Musculoskeletal Disorder among Critical Care Nurses

“…Another recent study by Epstein et al [ 12 ] has affirmed that the risk of developing MSDs increases due to force of movement, monotonous tasks, lack of control over job, and poor communication skills. Besides, work conditions like pace of work, weight of handling object, and layout of working station also significantly influence the development of MSDs [ 13 ]. The development of musculoskeletal pain was discussed by Lietz et al [ 14 ] and the analysis showed that the risk of MSDs increases on account of the use of vibrating equipment, adoption of consistent static posture, and utilization of psychomotor skills.…”

Hemşirelerde İşe Bağlı Kas-İskelet Sistemi Rahatsızlıklarının Görülme Sıklığı ve Etkileyen Faktörlerin İncelenmesi

“…Kas-iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıkları, kas, tendon, bağ, eklem, periferik sinir ve kan damarlarını etkileyen çok çeşitli enflamatuar ve dejeneratif durumları içerir 1 . Kas-iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıkları bireylerin sosyal ve ekonomik sorunlar yaşamalarına neden olmasının 2 yanında yaşam kalitesini de olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir 3,4 . Bunun yanı sıra, kas-iskelet sistemi rahatsızlıkları %45'e varan yüksek görülme sıklığı ile de dikkat çekmektedir 5,6 .…”