Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses
(1) Background: Neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) are common musculoskeletal disorders, one of the major causes of disability globally. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of medical occupation (physiotherapist and nurse) on the prevalence of spinal pain, functional status and d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5600 |
| _version_ | 1797478724671635456 |
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| author | Aleksandra Bryndal Sebastian Glowinski Agnieszka Grochulska |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Bryndal Sebastian Glowinski Agnieszka Grochulska |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Bryndal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) are common musculoskeletal disorders, one of the major causes of disability globally. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of medical occupation (physiotherapist and nurse) on the prevalence of spinal pain, functional status and degree of disability. (2) Methods: a total of 544 people (462 females (84.9%) and 82 males (15.1%)), licensed to practice as a physiotherapist (n1 = 240 (44.1%)) or nurse (n2 = 304 (55.9%)) in Poland completed a special questionnaire designed by the authors of the study, and were assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI, Polish language version) and Revised Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, Polish language version). (3) Results: Compared to physiotherapists, nurses were older, shorter, had higher BMI, and longer work experience. In the whole study group, 30.2% of subjects reported NP, 17.7% reported thoracic pain (ThP) and 80.5% reported LBP. During working life, 90.9% of physiotherapists and 97.7% of nurses experienced spinal pain. Pain intensity measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was higher among nurses (mean 5.37) than among physiotherapists (mean 4.64). Nurses had a higher degree of disability caused by LBP and NP measured with ODI and NDI compared to physiotherapists. (4) Conclusions: Excessive strain of the spine associated with occupational activities has a strong impact on the intensity and frequency of spinal pain episodes. Physiotherapists and nurses mainly suffer from low back pain. Pain scores measured with VAS are higher in nurses than in physiotherapists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:35:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf6c65e419dc48cc999646278bc21654 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:35:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf6c65e419dc48cc999646278bc216542023-11-23T20:45:49ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-09-011119560010.3390/jcm11195600Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and NursesAleksandra Bryndal0Sebastian Glowinski1Agnieszka Grochulska2Department of Physiotherapy, Institute of Health Sciences, Slupsk Pomeranian University, Westerplatte 64, 76-200 Slupsk, PolandInstitute of Physical Culture and Health, State Higher School of Vocational Education in Koszalin, Lesna 1, 75-582 Koszalin, PolandDepartment of Physiotherapy, Institute of Health Sciences, Slupsk Pomeranian University, Westerplatte 64, 76-200 Slupsk, Poland(1) Background: Neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) are common musculoskeletal disorders, one of the major causes of disability globally. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of medical occupation (physiotherapist and nurse) on the prevalence of spinal pain, functional status and degree of disability. (2) Methods: a total of 544 people (462 females (84.9%) and 82 males (15.1%)), licensed to practice as a physiotherapist (n1 = 240 (44.1%)) or nurse (n2 = 304 (55.9%)) in Poland completed a special questionnaire designed by the authors of the study, and were assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI, Polish language version) and Revised Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, Polish language version). (3) Results: Compared to physiotherapists, nurses were older, shorter, had higher BMI, and longer work experience. In the whole study group, 30.2% of subjects reported NP, 17.7% reported thoracic pain (ThP) and 80.5% reported LBP. During working life, 90.9% of physiotherapists and 97.7% of nurses experienced spinal pain. Pain intensity measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was higher among nurses (mean 5.37) than among physiotherapists (mean 4.64). Nurses had a higher degree of disability caused by LBP and NP measured with ODI and NDI compared to physiotherapists. (4) Conclusions: Excessive strain of the spine associated with occupational activities has a strong impact on the intensity and frequency of spinal pain episodes. Physiotherapists and nurses mainly suffer from low back pain. Pain scores measured with VAS are higher in nurses than in physiotherapists.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5600physiotherapistsnursesneck painlow back painmedical staffoccupation |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Bryndal Sebastian Glowinski Agnieszka Grochulska Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses Journal of Clinical Medicine physiotherapists nurses neck pain low back pain medical staff occupation |
| title | Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses |
| title_full | Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses |
| title_short | Influence of Occupation on the Prevalence of Spinal Pain among Physiotherapists and Nurses |
| title_sort | influence of occupation on the prevalence of spinal pain among physiotherapists and nurses |
| topic | physiotherapists nurses neck pain low back pain medical staff occupation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/19/5600 |
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