Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace of Physiotherapists: Occupational Risk Factors and Their Role in Prevention and Management: A Systematic Review

1 World Health Organization. Protecting Workers’ Health Series No. 5. Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023. Available from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/42651/924159053X.pdf?sequence=1 [Last accessed on 2024 Jan 14]. Search in Google Scholar

2 Mokhasi VR. Fore-warned is fore-armed: Effect of musculoskeletal disorders on sickness absenteeism. Cureus. 2022;14(10):e30481. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.30481 PMid:36415371 Search in Google Scholar

3 Razširjen Strokovni Kolegij za Fizioterapijo. Opis Poklica Fizioterapevt. Fizioterapija. Vol. 21; 2013. Available from: https://physio.si/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/9.-opis-poklica-fizioterapevt_2013_No1_p64-74.pdf [Last accessed on 2024 Jan 14]. Search in Google Scholar

4 Adje M, Odebiyi DO, Okafor UA, Kalu ME. Ergonomic principles in patient handling: Knowledge and practice of physiotherapists in Nigeria. Work. 2019;64(4):825-32. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-193044 PMid:31815722 Search in Google Scholar

5 Chen CY, Lu SR, Yang SY, Liang FW, Wang JJ, Ho CH, et al. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists in Taiwan. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022;101(7):e28885. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000028885 PMid:35363204 Search in Google Scholar

6 Jacquier-Bret J, Gorce P. Prevalence of body area work-related musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):841. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010841 PMid:36613163 Search in Google Scholar

7 Milhem M, Kalichman L, Ezra D, Alperovitch-Najenson D. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: A comprehensive narrative review. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2016;29(5):735-47. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00620 PMid:27518884 Search in Google Scholar

8 Vieira ER, Svoboda S, Belniak A, Brunt D, Rose-St Prix C, Roberts L, et al. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: An online survey. Disabil Rehabil. 2016;38(6):552-7. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2015.1049375 PMid:26007284 Search in Google Scholar

9 Gorce P, Jacquier-Bret J. A systematic review of work related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists and physiotherapists. J Bodywork Mov Ther. 2024;38:350-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.01.025 Search in Google Scholar

10 Jenkins H, Myezwa H. Work-related thumb disorders in South African physiotherapists treating musculoskeletal conditions using manual therapy techniques. S Afr J Physiother. 2015;71(1):249. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v71i1.249 PMid:30135877 Search in Google Scholar

11 Rossettini G, Rondoni A, Schiavetti I, Tezza S, Testa M. Prevalence and risk factors of thumb pain in Italian manual therapists: An observational cross-sectional study. Work. 2016;54(1):159-69. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-162289 PMid:27061697 Search in Google Scholar

12 Mahajan R, Sinhg M, Fahim T, Singh AK. Thumb pain in physiotherapists practicing manual therapy: Prevalence and consequences. Int J Health Sci Res. 2020;10(6):194-200. Search in Google Scholar

13 Škrečková G, Nechvátal P, Kozel M, Macej M. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal hand and wrist disorders in physiotherapists. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2023;31(3):178-83. https//doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a7767 Search in Google Scholar

14 Greiner BA, Nolan S, Hogan DA. Work-related upper limb symptoms in hand-intensive health care occupations: A cross-sectional study with a health and safety perspective. Phys Ther. 2019;99(1):62-73. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzy124 PMid:30329118 Search in Google Scholar

15 Waller E, Bowens A, Washmuth N. Prevalence of and prevention for work-related upper limb disorders among physical therapists: A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):453. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-05412-8 PMid:35568833 Search in Google Scholar

16 Glowinski S, Bryndal A, Grochulska A. Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland. PeerJ. 2021;9:e11715. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11715 PMid:34277152 Search in Google Scholar

17 Hogan DA, O‘Sullivan LW, Nolan S, Greiner BA. Are Irish therapists at heightened risk for low back pain? Occup Med (Lond). 2016;66(5):351-7. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqw020 PMid:26968686 Search in Google Scholar

18 Pellissier B, Sarhan FR, Telliez F. Work-related, non-specific low back pain among physiotherapists in France: Prevalence and biomechanical and psychosocial risk factors, as a function of practice pattern. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(5):4343. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054343 PMid:36901352 Search in Google Scholar

19 Alghadir A, Zafar H, Iqbal ZA, Al-Eisa E. Work-related low back pain among physical therapists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Workplace Health Saf. 2017;65(8):337-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079916670167 PMid:28121518 Search in Google Scholar

20 Balakrishnan R, Naib NA. Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among Physiotherapists in Sabah: A cross-sectional study. Int J Physical Educ Sports Health. 2016;3(1):336-43. Search in Google Scholar

21 Muaidi QI, Shanb AA. Prevalence causes and impact of work related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2016;29(4):763-769. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-160687 PMid:27002660 Search in Google Scholar

22 Kinaci E, Safinaz A. Work related musculoskeletal disorders among the physiotherapists: Sample of a Region in Turkey. Turk Klin J Health Sci. 2020;5(3):495-502. https://doi.org/10.5336/healthsci.2019-71762 Search in Google Scholar

23 Abu-Taleb W, Youssef AR. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Egyptian physical therapists. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2021;26(1):7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-021-00025-z Search in Google Scholar

24 Yasobant S, Rajkumar P. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among health care professionals: A cross-sectional assessment of risk factors in a tertiary hospital, India. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2014;18(2):75-81. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.146896 PMid:25568602 Search in Google Scholar

25 Cornwell L, Doyle H, Stohner M, Hazle C. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists attributable to manual therapy. J Man Manip Ther. 2021;29(2):92-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669817.2020.1793470 PMid:32697156 Search in Google Scholar

26 Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gøtzsche PC, Ioannidis JP, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: Explanation and elaboration. Ann Intern Med. 2009;151(4):W65-94. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2700 PMid:19622552 Search in Google Scholar

27 Iqbal Z, Alghadir A. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. Med Pr. 2015;66(4):459-69. https://doi.org/10.13075/mp.5893.00142 PMid:26536963 Search in Google Scholar

28 Anyfantis ID, Biska A. Musculoskeletal disorders among Greek physiotherapists: Traditional and emerging risk factors. Saf Health Work. 2018;9(3):314-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2017.09.003 PMid:30370163 Search in Google Scholar

29 Khairy WA, Bekhet AH, Sayed B, Elmetwally SE, Elsayed AM, Jahan AM. Prevalence, profile, and response to work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Egyptian physiotherapists. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(10):1692-9. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.335 PMid:31210825 Search in Google Scholar

30 Alnaser MZ, Aljadi SH. Physical therapists with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the State of Kuwait: A comparison across countries and health care professions. Work. 2019;63(2):261-8. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-192927 PMid:31156207 Search in Google Scholar

31 Ameer MA, Ashour AA. Practising physical therapy affects professionals in Egypt. Physiother Q. 2020;28(4):42-7. https://doi.org/10.5114/pq.2020.96235 Search in Google Scholar

32 Kakaraparthi VN, Vishwanathan K, Gadhavi B, Reddy RS, Samuel PS, Alshahrani MS, et al. The prevalence, characteristics, and impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-a cross-sectional study. Med Pr. 2021;72(4):363-73. https://doi.org/10.13075/mp.5893.01114 PMid:34467955 Search in Google Scholar

33 Yi YZ, Pillai SG, Ramalingam V, Hui OJ. Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) and the associated risk factors among Malaysian physiotherapists: A cross sectional study. J Phys Educ Sport. 2022;22(334):2636-41. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2022.11334 Search in Google Scholar

34 Le TT, Jalayondeja W, Mekhora K, Bhuuanantanondh P, Jalayondeja C. Prevalence and risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. BMC Public Health. 2024;24(1):6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17527-1 PMid:38166897 Search in Google Scholar

35 Fullen BM, Wittink H, De Groef A, Hoegh M, McVeigh JG, Martin D, et al. Musculoskeletal pain: Current and future directions of physical therapy practice. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2023;5(1):100258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2023.100258 PMid:36968175 Search in Google Scholar

36 Meh J, Bizovičar N, Kos N, Jakovljević M. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Slovenian physiotherapists. J Health Sci. 2020;10(2):115-24. https://doi.org/10.17532/jhsci.2020.880 Search in Google Scholar

37 Fan LJ, Liu S, Jin T, Gan JG, Wang FY, Wang HT, et al. Ergonomic risk factors and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in clinical physiotherapy. Front Public Health. 2022;10:1083609. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1083609 PMid:36605248 Search in Google Scholar

38 Choobineh A, Daneshmandi H, Fard SK, Tabatabaee SH. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among Iranian workforce and job groups. Int J Prev Med. 2016;7:130. https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-7802.195851 PMid:28105295 Search in Google Scholar

39 Del Campo MT, Romo PE, De la Hoz RE, Villamor JM, Mahíllo-Fernández I. Anxiety and depression predict musculoskeletal disorders in health care workers. Arch Environ Occup Health. 2016;72(1):39-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2016.1154002 PMid:26895069 Search in Google Scholar

40 Karanikas N, Jani BD. Frequency of examination and perceived contribution of factors relating to work-related musculoskeletal disorders of physiotherapists. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(2):1112-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2020.1867337 PMid:33342365 Search in Google Scholar