Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy-An International Journal

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Prevalence of Back & neck Pain among Physiotherapists


Affiliations
1 SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Introduction: Occupational health hazards are very common. With promotion of industrial life, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has increased markedly. The most common complaint in workers is low back and neck pain. As physiotherapists daily deal with all work related musculoskeletal problems and the job nature of physiotherapists included treating the patients, lifting the body part of the patients, awkward posture and may have to sit/stand for prolong period to treat the patients. So the purpose of the study is to find out the prevalence of back pain&neck pain among physiotherapists themselves.

Aim of Study: Find out prevalence of back and neck pain in the physiotherapists

Methodology: Study design: Observational study Sample selection: A random sample of 100 was taken after giving due consideration to inclusive&exclusive criteria. Data was collected by general assessment form&Nordic questionnaire Inclusive criteria: Age group-20-35 years, Gender - Males&Females, Working hours in O.P.D-at least 4 hours/day, Minimum of one year experience in treating patients. Exclusive criteria: Working in academic area, Age-Above 35 years, under any medication, Consuming alcohol, Fracture in back&neck region in past 1 year

Results: The prevalence of back pain in physiotherapists was 65% and neck pain was 41%. Working in O.P.D(75%) was ranked as the main factor which contributed to back pain, followed by prolong standing(66%), weight lifting(38%), vehicle driving(32%), prolong sitting(26%) working on computer(14%), depression(12%), poor posture(9%), dancing(8%)&injury(3%). Working in O.P.D (75%) was ranked as the main factor which contributed to neck pain, followed by poor posture(54%), vehicle driving(46%), prolong standing(34%), work on computer(34%), depression(27%), weight lifting(22%), prolong sitting(20%), dancing(10%)&injury(5%).

Conclusion: Prevalence of back pain was higher than the prevalence of neck pain among physiotherapists. Females were more prone to get back&neck pain than males. Working in O.P.D.&prolong standing were major factors contributed back pain whereas working in O.P.D.&poor posture were major factors contributed neck pain.


Keywords

Physiotherapists, Back Pain, Neck Pain
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Babar-Craig H, Banfield G, Knight J. Prevalence of back and neck pain amongst ENT consultants: na-tional survey. J Laryngol Otol. 2003; 117(12):979-82.

  • Bernard B, Fine L, eds. Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors. Cincinnati (OH): US Depart-ment of Health and Human Services, Public Health Services, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; July 1997.

  • Battié MC, Bigos SJ, Fisher LD, 1989. Isometric lift-ing as a strength predictor of industrial back pain., Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1989; 14(8):851-6.

  • Kvarnström S. Occurrence of musculoskeletal dis-orders in a manufacturing industry with special at-tention to occupational shoulder disorders. Scand J Rehab Med Suppl.1983; 8:1-114.

  • Holmstrom EB, Lindell J, Moritz U. Low back and neck/shoulder pain in construction workers: occupational workload and psychosocial risk factors. Part 1: Relationship to low back pain. Spine. 1992; 17(6):663-71.

  • Van Dieen J H. Asymmetry of erector spinae muscle activity in twisted postures and consistency of muscle activation patterns across subjects. Spine. 1996; 21(22):2651-61.

  • Callaghan J, McGill S. Low back joint loading and kinematics during standing and unsupported sit-ting. Ergonomics. 2001; 44:280-94.

  • Manga, P., D.E. Angus, C. Papadopoulus and W.R. Swan. A study to examine the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of chiropractic management of low back pain. The Manga Report. 1993.

  • Tessa. Is teaching bad for your back?. Teaching Expertise Magazine. 2010.

  • Guo, H.R., S. Tanaka, W.E. Halperin and L.L. Cameron. Back pain prevalence in US industry and estimates of lost workdays. Am. J. Public Health. 1999; 89: 1029-1035.

  • Tsuboi, H., K. Takeuchi, M. Watanabe, R. Hori and F. Kobayashi. Psychosocial factors related to low back pain among school personnel in Nagoya. Japan. Ind. Health. 2002; 40: 266-271.

  • Hignett S. Work-related back pain in nurses. JAdv Nursing. 1996; 23: 1238-1246.

  • Smedley J, Egger P, Copper C, Coggon D. Manual handling activities and risk of low back pain in nurses. Occup Environ Afed. l995; 52: 160-163.

  • N Pargali, N Jowkar. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain among Dentists in Shiraz, Southern Iran, Dentists and Musculoskeletal Pain. April 2010; 1(2).

  • Rotgoltz J, Derazne E, Froom P, Grushecky E, Ribak J. Prevalence of low back pain in employees of a pharmaceutical company. Israel J Med Sci. 1992; 28: 615-618

  • Thorbjornsson CO, et al. Psychological and physical risk factors associated with low back pain: a 24 year follow up among women and men in a broad range of occupations. Occup Environ Med. 1998; 55: 84-90.

  • McKeon, M., W.J. Albert and J.P. Neary. Assessment of neuromuscular and hemodynamic activity in individuals with and without chronic low back pain. Dyn. Med. 2006; 5(6).

  • Tavafian, S.S., A. Jamshidi, K. Mohammad and A. Montazeri. Low back pain education and short term quality of life: A randomized trial. MBC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2007; 8(21).

  • Clairborne, N., H. Vandenburgh, T.M. Krause and P. Leung. Measuring quality of life changes in individuals with chronic low back pain conditions: A back education programme evaluation. Evaluat. Programme Plann. 2002; 25: 61-70.

  • Ariens, G.A., P.M. Bongers, W.E. Hoogerndoorn, I.L. Houtman and G. Van Der Wal et al. High quantitative job demands and low coworker support as risk factors for neck pain: Results of a prospective cohort study. Spine. 2001; 26: 1896-1901.

  • Chiu, T.W., K.T. Lau, C.W. Ho, M.C. Ma and F.T. Yeung et al. A study on the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain in secondary school teachers. Public Health. 2006; 120: 563-565.

  • Falavigna, Asdrubal Teles, Alisson Roberto Mazzocchin, Thaís de Braga, Gustavo Lisbôa Kleber, Fabrício Diniz et al. A study on increased prevalence of low back pain among physiotherapystudents compared to medical students. European spine journal. 2010-12-07.

  • Fejer, René Kyvik, Kirsten Ohm Hartvigsen. Jan A study on the prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. European spine journal.2005-07-06.

  • Hartvigsen, Jan Frederiksen, Henrik Christensen, Kaare. A study on Back and neck pain in seniorsprevalence and impact. European spine journal. 2005-10-19.

  • Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César Hernández-Barrera, Valentín Alonso-Blanco, Cristina Palacios-Ceña, Domingo Carrasco-Garrido, Pilar Jimenez Sanchez, Silvia Jimenez Garcia, Rodrigo. A study on Prevalence of neck and low back pain in community-dwelling adults in Spain: a population-based national study. spine journal.2011-02-01.

  • Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Elsevier Science. 1987 Sep; 18(3):233-7.


Abstract Views: 1360

PDF Views: 0




  • Prevalence of Back & neck Pain among Physiotherapists

Abstract Views: 1360  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Salvi Shah
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Ankita Kachhadiya
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Pooja Savani
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Vishva Shukla
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Ankit Patel
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Ekta Parmar
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India
Jigar Modi
SPB Physiotherapy College, Ugat-Bhesan Road, Surat, India

Abstract


Introduction: Occupational health hazards are very common. With promotion of industrial life, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has increased markedly. The most common complaint in workers is low back and neck pain. As physiotherapists daily deal with all work related musculoskeletal problems and the job nature of physiotherapists included treating the patients, lifting the body part of the patients, awkward posture and may have to sit/stand for prolong period to treat the patients. So the purpose of the study is to find out the prevalence of back pain&neck pain among physiotherapists themselves.

Aim of Study: Find out prevalence of back and neck pain in the physiotherapists

Methodology: Study design: Observational study Sample selection: A random sample of 100 was taken after giving due consideration to inclusive&exclusive criteria. Data was collected by general assessment form&Nordic questionnaire Inclusive criteria: Age group-20-35 years, Gender - Males&Females, Working hours in O.P.D-at least 4 hours/day, Minimum of one year experience in treating patients. Exclusive criteria: Working in academic area, Age-Above 35 years, under any medication, Consuming alcohol, Fracture in back&neck region in past 1 year

Results: The prevalence of back pain in physiotherapists was 65% and neck pain was 41%. Working in O.P.D(75%) was ranked as the main factor which contributed to back pain, followed by prolong standing(66%), weight lifting(38%), vehicle driving(32%), prolong sitting(26%) working on computer(14%), depression(12%), poor posture(9%), dancing(8%)&injury(3%). Working in O.P.D (75%) was ranked as the main factor which contributed to neck pain, followed by poor posture(54%), vehicle driving(46%), prolong standing(34%), work on computer(34%), depression(27%), weight lifting(22%), prolong sitting(20%), dancing(10%)&injury(5%).

Conclusion: Prevalence of back pain was higher than the prevalence of neck pain among physiotherapists. Females were more prone to get back&neck pain than males. Working in O.P.D.&prolong standing were major factors contributed back pain whereas working in O.P.D.&poor posture were major factors contributed neck pain.


Keywords


Physiotherapists, Back Pain, Neck Pain

References