title: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists: an online survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the rates and characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in physical therapists (PTs) according to their specialty and setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed an online questionnaire including 15 demographic questions, 7 work-related and 8 injury-related questions for 9 different body parts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete responses were obtained from 121 PTs; 96% reported MSD symptoms during the previous 12 months, 64% affecting at least 3 body parts. The body parts with the highest prevalence of symptoms were the low back (66%) and the neck (61%). For PTs specialized in acute care, geriatrics and pediatrics, the body part most commonly affected was the low back, while for PTs specialized in orthopedics and neurology, the body part most commonly affected was the neck. Regarding work settings, the low back was the most commonly affected for PTs working in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics and hospitals, and the neck in PTs working in academic and home health settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSDs are common among PTs; the body parts most often affected were the low back and neck. The prevalence and body parts affected varied by practice setting and specialty area. The findings can help informing the design of evidence-based rehabilitation, prevention, training and educational programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation of injured physical therapists needs to address the symptoms of the multiple body parts that are usually affected (e.g. back, wrists and hands). Rehabilitation of injured physical therapists needs to take into consideration their job demands, practice setting and specialty area. The findings can inform the design of rehabilitation, prevention, training and educational programs for physical therapists.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Edgar R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Svoboda
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belniak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brunt
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rose-St Prix
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Bruno R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders; occupational injury; pain; physical therapists; prevention; survey