In the US, as the demands for rehabilitation services increase, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have increased among rehabilitation practitioners. This trend has been noticed among physical therapists (PTs) in the State of Kuwait.
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with WMSDs among PTs in Kuwait over a 12-month period. In addition, the result compared across countries and health care professions.
METHODS:
A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the PT departments at Kuwait government hospitals and schools. A total of 312 returned questionnaires (69.3% response rate) were received.
RESULTS:
Results showed that 149 (48%) PT respondents experienced WMSDs. The lower back and muscle spasm were the most common area of the body injured and type of injury, respectively. Manual therapy techniques and patient transfers were most common activities associated with injuries.
CONCLUSIONS:
The prevalence of PTs with WMSDs in Kuwait was high and similar to other studies of PTs with WMSDs working in other countries. The performance of work activities was the leading risk factor for WMSDs, and WMSDs were prevalent among industrialized, industrially developing, and underdeveloped countries. Education of PTs regarding ergonomic and biomechanical principles as well as hands-on training of patient handling are the key tools to help prevent WMSDs.
ShehabD, Al-JarallahK, MoussaMAA, AdhamN. Prevalence of low back pain among physical therapists in Kuwait. Med Princ and Pract. 2003;12:224.
2.
AlrowayehHN, AlshattiTA, AljadiSH, FaresM, AlshamireMM, AlwazanSS. Prevalence, characteristics, and impacts of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A survey among physical therapists in the State of Kuwait. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2010;11:116.
3.
The national Institute for Occupational safety and health. NIOSH hazard review: Occupational hazards in home healthcare. Publication No. 2010-125. 2010. Cincinnati, OH.
4.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor. Injuries, illnesses, and fatalities: Occupational safety and health definitions, 2016A. Washington, DC.
5.
DarraghAR, HuddlestonW, KingP. Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among occupational and physical therapists. AJOT. 2009;63:251.
6.
CampoM, WeiserS, KoenigKL, NordinM. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: A prospective cohort study with 1-year follow up. Phys Ther. 2008;88(5):608.
7.
WaldropS. Work-related injuries: Preventing the PT from becoming the patient. PT: Magazine of Physical Therapy. 2004;12(2):34.
8.
CromieJE, RobertsonVJ, BestMO. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: Prevalence, severity, risks, and responses. Phys Ther. 2000;80(4):336.
9.
VieiraER, SchneiderP, GuideraC, GadottiIC, BruntD. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil. 2016;29(3):417–28.
10.
TruszczynskaA, SchererA, Drzal-GrabiecJ. The occurrence of overload at work and musculoskeletal pain in young physiotherapists. Work. 2016;54(3):609–16.
11.
IslamMS, HabibMM, HafezMA, NaharN, Lindstrom-HazelD, RahmanMK. Muscluloskeletal complaints among physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation professionals in Bangladesh. Work. 2015;50(3):379–86.
12.
MuaidiQ, ShanbAA. Prevalence causes and impact of work related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. J. Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil. 2016;29(4):763–9.
13.
PassierL, McPhailS. Work related musculoskeletal disorders amongst therapists in physically demanding roles: Qualitative analysis of risk factors and strategies for prevention. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2011;2:24.
14.
AlnaserMZ. Occupational musculoskeletal injuries in the health care environment and its impact on occupational therapy practitioners: A systemic review. Work. 2007;29(2):89.
15.
HolderNL, ClarkHA, DiblasioJM, HughesCL, ScherpfJW, HardingL, ShepardKF. Cause, prevalence, response to occupational musculoskeletal injuries reported by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Phys Ther. 1999;79(7):642.
16.
ChungSH, HerJG, KoT, KoJ, KimH, LeeJS, WooJ. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Korean physical therapists. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(1):55–9.
17.
IqbalZ, AlghadirA. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. Medycyna Pracy. 2015;66(4):459–69.
GulH, UmarB, ShabbirM. Work Related Musculoskeletal Problems among Professionals of Physical Therapy in Hospitals of Lahore, a city of Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences. 2014;2(1):8.
20.
AlghadirA, ZafarH, IqbalZ, Al-EsaE. Work-related low back pain among physical therapists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Workplace Health & Safety. 2017;65(8):337–45.
21.
SalikY, ÖzcanA. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A survey of physical therapists in Izmir-Turkey. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2004;5(1):27.
22.
SiqueiraGR, CahuFGM, VieiraRAG. Occurrence of low back pain in physical therapists from the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Rev Bras Fisioter. 2008;12(3):222.
23.
GloverW, McGregorA, SullivanC, HagueJ. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders affecting members of the chartered society of physiotherapy. Physio. 2005;91(3):138.
24.
World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Global country profile maps, In the country are physical therapist support personnel workforce?London, UK: WCPT; 2017. https://www.wcpt.org/cds/globalprofile/2017/workforce (Access date 25th September 2018).
25.
World Confederation for Physical Therapy. Policy statement: Physical therapist support personnel. London, UK: WCPT; 2017. https://www.wcpt.org/policy/ps-support-personnel (Access date 25th September 2018).
BorkBE, CookTM, RosencranceJC, EnglehardtKA, ThomasonME, WufordIJ, et al.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. Phys Ther. 1996;76:827–35.
28.
AlnaserMZ. Occupational therapy practitioners with occupational musculoskeletal injuries: Prevalence and risk factors. J Occup Rehabil. 2015;25(4):763.
29.
DyrkaczAP, MakLYM, HeckCS. Work-related injuries in Canadian occupational therapy practice. Can J Occup Ther. 2012;79(4):237.
30.
BarzidehM, ChoobinehAR, TabatabaeeHR. Job stress dimensions and their relationship to musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian nurses. Work. 2014;47(4):423–9.
31.
ChoiSD, BringsK. Work-related musculoskeletal risks associated with nurses and nursing assistants handling overweight and obese patients: Literature review. Work. 2016;53(2):439–48.
32.
Gençc A, KahramanT, GözE. The prevalence differences of musculoskeletal problems and related physical workload among hospital staff. J. Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil. 2016;29(3):541–7.
33.
NourollahiM, AfshariD, DianatI. Awkward trunk postures and their relationship with low back pain in hospital nurses. Work. 2018;59(3):317–23.
34.
SamaeiSE, MostafaeeM, JafarpoorH, HosseinbadiMB. Effect of patient-handling and individual factors on the prevalence of low back pain among nursing personnel. Work. 2017;56(4):551–61.
35.
SerranheiraF, Sousa-UvaM, Sousa-UvaA. Hospital nurses tasks and work-related musculoskeletal disorders symptoms: A detailed analysis. Work. 2015;51(3):401–9.
36.
RathoreFA, AttiqueR, AsmaaY. Prevalence and perceptions of musculoskeletal disorders among hospital nurses in Pakistan: A Cross-sectional survey. Cureus. 2017;9(1):e1001.
37.
LelisCH, BattausMRB, FreitasFCT, RochaFLR, MarzialeMHPM, RobazziMLDCC. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in nursing professionals: An integrative literature review. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem. 2012;25(3):477–82.
38.
ByrnsG, ReedderG, JinG, PachisK. Risk factors for work-related low back pain in registered nurses, and potential obstacles in using mechanical lifting devices. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2010;7:11.
39.
TinubuBMS, MbadaCE, OyeyemiAL, FabumiAA. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria: A cross-sectional survey. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2010;11:12.
40.
TrinkoffAM, LeR, Geiger-BrownJ, LipscombJ, LangG. Longitudinal relationship of work hours, mandatory overtime, and on-call to musculoskeletal problems in nurses. Am J Ind Med. 2006;49(11):964.
41.
CromieJE, RobertsonVJ, BestMO. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the culture of physical therapy. Phys Ther. 2002;82(5):459.
42.
AndoS, OnoY, ShimaokaM, HirutaS, HattoriY, HoriF, TakeuchiY. Associations of self estimated workloads with musculoskeletal symptoms among hospital nurses. Occup Environ Med. 2000;57:211.
43.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work 2015. Publication No. USDL-16-2130. 2016B Washington, DC.
44.
RiceMS, DusseauJM, MillerBK. A questionnaire of musculoskeletal injuries associated with manual patient lifting in occupational therapy practitioners in the State of Ohio. Occup Ther Health Care. 2011;25(2-3):95.
45.
AlnaserMZ. Psychosocial issues of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and adaptation: A phenomenological study. Work. 2009;32:123–32.
46.
ChanJ, SpencerJ. Adaptation to hand injury: An evolving experience. Am J Occup Ther. 2004;58(2):128–39.
47.
KeoughJL, FisherTF. Occupational-psychosocial perceptions influencing return to work and functional performance of injured worker. Work. 2001;16(2):101–10.
48.
LeePWH, HoESY, TsangAKT, ChengJCY, LeungPC, ChengYH, Lieh-MakF. Psychosocial adjustment of victims of occupational hand injuries. Soc Sci Med. 1985;20(5):493–7.
49.
AlaviS, MakaremJ, AbbasiM, RahimiA, MehrdadR. Association between upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder and mental status in office workers. Work. 2016;55(1):3–11.
