Allied Health Professionals and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review

Sarah P Anderson, Jodi Oakman, Sarah P Anderson, Jodi Oakman

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders (WMSD) are a significant issue in the health care sector. Allied Health professionals (AHP) in this sector are exposed to physical and psychosocial factors associated with increased risk of developing a WMSD. Clarification of relevant hazard and risk factors for AHP is needed to improve understanding and inform WMSD risk management. A systematic analysis of the literature was undertaken to determine prevalence and risk factors for WMSD in AHP. Databases of Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were reviewed. This quality of articles was low. Outcome measures were varied, with prevalence rates of WMSD reported from 28% to 96% over a one-year time period. The lower back was the most commonly affected body part. Relevant factors identified with the development of WMSD included inexperience in the role and area of employment. Future research needs to focus on undertaking high quality prospective studies to determine the factors associated with WMSD development in AHP.

Keywords: allied health; risk factors; work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart.

References

    1. Safe Work Australia . 2013. Compendium of Workers' Compensation Statistics 2010–2011.
    1. Baldwin A., Woods K., Copeland Simmons M. Diversity of the allied health workforce: the unmet challenge. J Allied Health. 2006;34:116–120.
    1. Colins K., Jones M., McDonnell A., Read S., Jones R., Cameron A. Do new roles contribute to job satisfaction and retention of staff in nursing and professions allied to medicine? J Nurs Manag. 2000;8:3–12.
    1. Dodd J., Saggers S., Wildy H. Retention in the allied health workforce: boomers, generation X and generation Y. J Allied Health. 2009;38:215–219.
    1. Lyons K., Lapin J., Young B. A study of job satisfaction of nursing and allied health graduates from a mid-Atlantic university. J Allied Health. 2003;32:10–17.
    1. O'Toole K., Schoo A., Hernan A. Why did they leave and what can they tell us? Allied health professionals leaving rural settings. Aust Health Rev. 2010;34:66–72.
    1. Stagnitti K., Schoo A., Dunbar J., Reid C. An exploration of issues of management and intention to stay: allied health professionals in South West Victoria, Australia. J Allied Health. 2006;35:226–232.
    1. Wilson N. Factors that affect job satisfaction and intention to leave of allied health professionals in a metropolitan hospital. Aust Health Rev. 2015;39:290–294.
    1. Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA). About AHPA [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2016 Mar 12]. Available from: .
    1. Dawson A.P., McLennan S.N., Schiller S.D., Jull G.A., Hodges P.W., Stewart S. Interventions to prevent back pain and back injury in nurses: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2007;64:642–650.
    1. Gropelli T.M., Corle K. Nurses' and therapists experiences with occupational musculoskeletal injuries. AAOHN J. 2010;58:159–166.
    1. Oakman J., Macdonald W., Wells Y. Developing a comprehensive approach to risk management of musculoskeletal disorders in non-nursing health care sector employees. Appl Ergon. 2014;45:1634–1640.
    1. Bork B.E., Cook T.M., Rosecrance J.C., Engelhardt K.A., Thomason M.E., Wauford I.J., Worley R.K. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. Phys Ther. 1996;76:827–835.
    1. Campo M.A., Weiser S., Koenig K.L. Job strain in physical therapists. Phys Ther. 2009;89:946–956.
    1. Cromie J.E., Robertson V.J., Best M.O. Occupational health and safety in physiotherapy: guidelines for practice. Aust J Physiother. 2001;47:43–51.
    1. Rozenfeld V., Ribak J., Danziger J., Tsamir J., Carmeli E. Prevalence, risk factors and preventive strategies in work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Israeli physical therapists. Physiother Res Int. 2010;15:176–184.
    1. Sharan D., Ajeesh P.S. Injury prevention in physiotherapists—a scientific review. Work. 2012;41(Suppl 1):1855–1859.
    1. Vieira E.R., Svoboda S., Belniak A., Brunt D., Rose-St Prix C., Roberts L., da Costa B.R. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: an online survey. Disabil Rehabil. 2016;38:552–557.
    1. Hignett S. Intervention strategies to reduce musculoskeletal injuries associated with handling patients: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2003;60:E6.
    1. Macdonald W., Evans O. 2006. Research on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders Stage 1: literature review.
    1. Macdonald W. Workload, stress and psychosocial factors as hazards for musculoskeletal disorders. J Occup Health Saf. 2004;20:37–47.
    1. Safe Work Australia . 2013. Issues in the measurement and reporting of work health and safety performance: a review.
    1. Menzel N.N. Underreporting of musculoskeletal disorders among health care workers: research needs. AAOHN J. 2008;56:487–494.
    1. Rosenman K.D., Gardiner J.C., Wang J., Biddle J., Hogan A., Reilly M.J., Roberts K., Welch E. Why most workers with occupational repetitive trauma do not file for workers' compensation. J Occup Environ Med. 2000;42:25–34.
    1. Law M., Stewart D., Pollock N., Letts L., Bosch J., Westmorland M. McMaster University; 1998. Critical review form – quantitative studies.
    1. Letts L., Wilkins S., Law M., Stewart D., Bosch J., Westmorland M. McMaster University; 2007. Critical review form—qualitative studies, version 2.0.
    1. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme . 2013. Systematic review checklist.
    1. Caragianis S. The prevalence of occupational injuries among hand therapists in Australia and New Zealand. J Hand Ther. 2002;15:234–241.
    1. Snodgrass S.J., Rivett D.A., Chiarelli P., Bates A.M., Rowe L.J. Factors related to thumb pain in physiotherapists. Aust J Physiother. 2003;49:243–250.
    1. Wajon A., Ada L., Refshauge K. Work-related thumb pain in physiotherapists is associated with thumb alignment during performance of PA pressures. Man Ther. 2007;12:12–16.
    1. Ruess L., O'Connor S.C., Cho K.H., Hussain F.H., Howard W.J., III, Slaughter R.C., Hedge A. Carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome: work-related musculoskeletal disorders in four symptomatic radiologists. Am J Roentgenol. 2003;181:37–42.
    1. Adegoke B.O., Akodu A.K., Oyeyemi A.L. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Nigerian physiotherapists. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:112.
    1. Cromie J.E., Robertson V.J., Best M.O. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: prevalence, severity, risks, and responses. Phys Ther. 2000;80:336–351.
    1. West D.J., Gardner D. Occupational injuries of physiotherapists in North and Central Queensland. Aust J Physiother. 2001;47:179–186.
    1. Alnaser M.Z. Occupational musculoskeletal injuries in the health care environment and its impact on occupational therapy practitioners: a systematic review. Work. 2007;29:89–100.
    1. Alrowayeh H.N., Alshatti T.A., Aljadi S.H., Fares M., Alshamire M.M., Alwazan S.S. Prevalence, characteristics, and impacts of work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a survey among physical therapists in the State of Kuwait. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010;11:116.
    1. Kuorinka I., Jonsson B., Kilbom A., Vinterberg H., Biering-Sorensen F., Andersson G., Jørgensen K. Standardised Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18:233–237.
    1. Campo M., Weiser S., Koenig K.L., Nordin M. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up. Phys Ther. 2008;88:608–619.
    1. Cromie J.E., Robertson V.J., Best M.O. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the culture of physical therapy. Phys Ther. 2002;82:459–472.
    1. Darragh A.R., Huddleston W., King P. Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and disorders among occupational and physical therapists. Am J Occup Ther. 2009;63:351–362.
    1. Dyrkacz A.P., Mak L.Y., Heck C.S. Work-related injuries in Canadian occupational therapy practice. Can J Occup Ther. 2012;79:237–247.
    1. Glover W., McGregor A., Sullivan C., Hague J. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders affecting members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy. 2005;91:138–147.
    1. Grooten W.J., Wernstedt P., Campo M. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in female Swedish physical therapists with more than 15 years of job experience: prevalence and associations with work exposures. Physiother Theory Pract. 2011;27:213–222.
    1. Hill J.J., 3rd, Slade M.D., Russi M.B. Anthropometric measurements, job strain, and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in female medical sonographers. Work. 2009;33:181–189.
    1. Islam M., Habib M., Hafez M., Nahar N., Lindstrom-Hazel D., Rahman M. Musculoskeletal complaints among physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation professionals in Bangladesh. Work. 2015;50:379–386.
    1. Kumar S., Moro L., Narayan Y. Perceived physical stress at work and musculoskeletal discomfort in X-ray technologists. Ergonomics. 2004;47:189–201.
    1. Lorusso A., Bruno S., L'Abbate N. Musculoskeletal complaints among Italian X-ray technologists. Ind Health. 2007;45:705–708.
    1. Losa I.M., Becerro D.B.V.R., Salvadores F.P. Self-reported musculoskeletal disorders in podiatrists at work. Med Lav. 2010;102:502–510.
    1. Nordin N.A., Leonard J.H., Thye N.C. Work-related injuries among physiotherapists in public hospitals: a Southeast Asian picture. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2011;66:373–378.
    1. Passier L., McPhail S. Work-related injuries amongst occupational therapists: a preliminary investigation. Br J Occup Ther. 2011;74:143–147.
    1. Passier L., McPhail S. Work related musculoskeletal disorders amongst therapists in physically demanding roles: qualitative analysis of risk factors and strategies for prevention. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011;12:24.
    1. Rugelj D. Low back pain and other work-related musculoskeletal problems among physiotherapists. Appl Ergon. 2003;34:635–639.
    1. Salik Y., Ozcan A. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a survey of physical therapists in Izmir-Turkey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2004;5:27.
    1. Sin Ho C., Jin Gang H., Taesung K., Jooyen K., Heesoo K., Ju Sang L., Ji-Hae W. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Korean physical therapists. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25:55–59.
    1. Hammer G.P., Prel J-Bd, Blettner M. Avoiding bias in observational studies part 8 of a series on evaluation of scientific publications. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2009;106:664–668.
    1. Schofield D.J., Fletcher S.L. The physiotherapy workforce is ageing, becoming more masculinised, and is working longer hours: a demographic study. Aust J Physiother. 2007;53:121–126.
    1. Glover W. Work-related strain injuries in physiotherapists: prevalence and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Physiotherapy. 2002;88:364–372.
    1. Campo M., Darragh A.R. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are associated with impaired presenteeism in allied health care professionals. J Occup Environ Med. 2012;54:64–70.
    1. Arrighi H.M., Hertz-Picciotto I. The evolving concept of the healthy worker survivor effect. Epidemiology. 1994;5:189–196.
    1. Carpenter L.M. Some observations on the healthy worker effect. Br J Ind Med. 1987;44:289–291.
    1. Oakman J., Chan S. Risk management: where should we target strategies to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders? Saf Sci. 2014;73:99–105.
    1. Graham M. How do we know what we know? Epidemiology in health research. In: Liamputtong P., editor. Research methods in health. Oxford University Press; Melbourne, Australia: 2010. pp. 219–233.
    1. W.F. Blair, Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WMSDs): A reference book for prevention: M. Hagberg et al., Taylor and Francis, Inc., 1900 Frost Road, Suite 101, Bristol, PA 19007.
    1. Holder N.L., Clark H.A., DiBlasio J.M., Hughes C.L., Scherpf J.W., Harding L., Shepard K.F. Cause, prevalence, and response to occupational musculoskeletal injuries reported by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Phys Ther. 1999;79:642–652.
    1. Karasek R.A. Job Demands, Job Decision Latitude, and Mental Strain: Implications for Job Redesign. Adm Sci Q. 1979;24:285–308.

Source: PubMed

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

3
Subscribe