title: The occurrence of overload at work and musculoskeletal pain in young physiotherapists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A job requiring stooping, lifting, carrying loads and multiple repetitions of the same movement patterns leads to overloading the musculoskeletal system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the work-related load experienced by physiotherapists and the occurrence of the musculoskeletal system overload.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 108 young physiotherapists, 69 women and 39 men, aged from 25 to 35 years (mean 27.12 ± 3.72 years). The study used an anonymous questionnaire and Quick Exposure Check.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common musculoskeletal complaints were as follows: 70 physiotherapists (64.8%) reported low back pain, 60 (55.6%) cervical pain, and 34 (31.5%) pain in the wrists and fingers. Statistically significant positive correlations were revealed between the number of years worked in the profession and shoulder pain. The number of hours of work per week was positively correlated with the occurrence of pain in all analyzed body areas. Professional experience was negatively correlated with the level of stress felt. Physiotherapists dealing with manual therapy and exercise physiotherapy were particularly vulnerable to musculoskeletal overload.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Popularization of knowledge regarding ergonomics among physiotherapists could reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal overload.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truszczyńska
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiotherapy, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drzał-Grabiec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload; D014953:Wrist
keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders; physiotherapy; spine; upper extremity; work physiology; work-related musculoskeletal disorders