<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<sec id="j_sjph-2022-0023_s_006">

<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>Among physiotherapists, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common health problem. This study aimed to provide evidence for planning evidence-based health promotion programmes for ensuring and maintaining adequate physical fitness (PF) to decrease WMSDs among physiotherapists which would have started already during the study.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2022-0023_s_007">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>A cross-sectional study involved the participation of a total of 100 physiotherapy students and 62 physiotherapists. Observed variables were prevalence of WMSDs in the last 12 months, lasting >3 days during physiotherapeutic activities and five PF components: body composition, cardiorespiratory and muscle endurance, muscle strength, and flexibility. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used as the main analytical methods.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2022-0023_s_008">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Prevalence of WMSDs in physiotherapists was 63.9% (the most common locations: lower back, shoulders, neck), while in physiotherapy students it was 46.5% (the most common locations: lower back, neck, upper back) (p=0.031). Among the PF components, the results showed statistically significantly worse flexibility among students compared to physiotherapists (about two thirds of students had poor or very poor results of flexibility testing) (p=0.002) in comparison to physiotherapists. A statistically significant positive association between WMSDs and PF was observed only between knee pain and poor cardiorespiratory endurance (OR=4.03 with 95% CI 1.12-14.58; p=0.033).</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2022-0023_s_009">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The study showed poor flexibility among students indicating that it is necessary to direct them to perform activities that will increase the extensibility of muscles. The awareness of this problem should be increased. A specific role should be played by staff involved in clinical practice.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
Among physiotherapists, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common health problem. This study aimed to provide evidence for planning evidence-based health promotion programmes for ensuring and maintaining adequate physical fitness (PF) to decrease WMSDs among physiotherapists which would have started already during the study.


Methods
A cross-sectional study involved the participation of a total of 100 physiotherapy students and 62 physiotherapists. Observed variables were prevalence of WMSDs in the last 12 months, lasting >3 days during physiotherapeutic activities and five PF components: body composition, cardiorespiratory and muscle endurance, muscle strength, and flexibility. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used as the main analytical methods.


Results
Prevalence of WMSDs in physiotherapists was 63.9% (the most common locations: lower back, shoulders, neck), while in physiotherapy students it was 46.5% (the most common locations: lower back, neck, upper back) (p=0.031). Among the PF components, the results showed statistically significantly worse flexibility among students compared to physiotherapists (about two thirds of students had poor or very poor results of flexibility testing) (p=0.002) in comparison to physiotherapists. A statistically significant positive association between WMSDs and PF was observed only between knee pain and poor cardiorespiratory endurance (OR=4.03 with 95% CI 1.12-14.58; p=0.033).


Conclusion
The study showed poor flexibility among students indicating that it is necessary to direct them to perform activities that will increase the extensibility of muscles. The awareness of this problem should be increased. A specific role should be played by staff involved in clinical practice.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Croatia and their association with physical fitness

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Z delom povezane mišično-skeletne motnje fizioterapevtov in študentov fizioterapije na hrvaškem in njihova povezanost s telesno pripravljenostjo

Introduction
Among physiotherapists, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are the most common health problem. This study aimed to provide evidence...

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Croatia and their association with physical fitness

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2022

Páginas: 171 - 180

Recibido: 20 abr 2022

Aceptado: 26 may 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2022-0023

Palabras clave
musculoskeletal disorders, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy students

© 2022 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in Croatia and their association with physical fitness

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2022

Páginas: 171 - 180

Recibido: 20 abr 2022

Aceptado: 26 may 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2022-0023

Palabras clavemusculoskeletal disorders, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy students

© 2022 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
musculoskeletal disorders, physical fitness, physiotherapists, physiotherapy students