물리치료사의 작업관련 근골격계 통증과 부담작업 유해요인 평가

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Pain and Workload Evaluation of Physical Therapists: Focused on Neurological Injury Treatment of Adults

Importance of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) has been increasing in the hospital industry such as health care industry and financial industry. This study investigated in order to identify the factors like general, occupational and ergonomically characteristics of the subjects related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of physical therapists (PTs). Ergonomic tools of rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used for evaluation workload of the tasks. Prevalence of MSDs were 13 PTs (26.0%) for neck, 31 PTs (62.0%) for shoulder, 9 PTs (18.0%) for arm/elbow, 27 PTs (54.0%) for hand/wrist, 28 PTs (56.0%) for back, 14 PTs (28.0%) for leg/foot. The analysis of the rate of the pain intensity showed that 53.5% subjects experience moderate pain and 14.0% subjects experience severe pain. Factors which were general characteristics, for example, height, ergonomically characteristics such as ‘Posture Score A’ were related musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in logistic analysis (p＜.05). Among physical therapists, action level of RULA were action level 2 (6.0%), action level 3 (52.0%). action level 4 (42.0%). Physical therapists were estimated one of the highest risk factor in this study. This study suggested that tile need of preventive education and program for PTs (physical therapists). Comprehensive and systematic management plans should be established to include both ergonomic and sociopsychological aspects.