Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, symptoms of, and risk factors for spinal pain in physiotherapists, as well as to analyse the correlation between these factors and the nature of the work, anthropometric features of the respondents, and the level of their physical...

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Main Authors: Sebastian Glowinski, Aleksandra Bryndal, Agnieszka Grochulska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2021-07-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/11715.pdf
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author Sebastian Glowinski
Aleksandra Bryndal
Agnieszka Grochulska
author_facet Sebastian Glowinski
Aleksandra Bryndal
Agnieszka Grochulska
author_sort Sebastian Glowinski
collection DOAJ
description Background The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, symptoms of, and risk factors for spinal pain in physiotherapists, as well as to analyse the correlation between these factors and the nature of the work, anthropometric features of the respondents, and the level of their physical activity. Methods The study was conducted among 240 physiotherapists (71 male and 169 female) with a mean age of 38.7 years. They were divided into three groups: physical therapy (37), kinesitherapy (158) and massage (45). Physiotherapists were evaluated with a specially designed questionnaire, the postural discomfort chart, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Results The analysis showed a 91.7% incidence of spinal pain in physiotherapists (91.1% for kinesitherapy, 97.3% for physical therapy, and 88.9% for massage). The study revealed that 50.2% of physiotherapists indicated one to five pain episodes in their careers. Most respondents reported pain in the lumbosacral spine (82%) and the cervical spine (67%). Most respondents (58.5%) scored the pain as moderate (VAS scale). Carrying (62.6%) and torso bending (37.4%) were indicated as the causes of pain. Conclusions Physiotherapists demonstrate a high prevalence of spinal pain. Physical activity reduces the frequency of pain episodes.
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spelling doaj.art-de3140f0dc5146bfb60485fd9ec6a3e82023-12-02T23:45:13ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-07-019e1171510.7717/peerj.11715Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in PolandSebastian Glowinski0Aleksandra Bryndal1Agnieszka Grochulska2Department of Mechanical Engineering/Division of Mechatronics and Automatics, Technical University of Koszalin, Koszalin, Zachodniopomorskie, PolandInstitute of Health Sciences, Slupsk Pomeranian Academy, Slupsk, Pomorskie, PolandInstitute of Health Sciences, Slupsk Pomeranian Academy, Slupsk, Pomorskie, PolandBackground The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, symptoms of, and risk factors for spinal pain in physiotherapists, as well as to analyse the correlation between these factors and the nature of the work, anthropometric features of the respondents, and the level of their physical activity. Methods The study was conducted among 240 physiotherapists (71 male and 169 female) with a mean age of 38.7 years. They were divided into three groups: physical therapy (37), kinesitherapy (158) and massage (45). Physiotherapists were evaluated with a specially designed questionnaire, the postural discomfort chart, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Results The analysis showed a 91.7% incidence of spinal pain in physiotherapists (91.1% for kinesitherapy, 97.3% for physical therapy, and 88.9% for massage). The study revealed that 50.2% of physiotherapists indicated one to five pain episodes in their careers. Most respondents reported pain in the lumbosacral spine (82%) and the cervical spine (67%). Most respondents (58.5%) scored the pain as moderate (VAS scale). Carrying (62.6%) and torso bending (37.4%) were indicated as the causes of pain. Conclusions Physiotherapists demonstrate a high prevalence of spinal pain. Physical activity reduces the frequency of pain episodes.https://peerj.com/articles/11715.pdfSpinal painPhysiotherapistsRisk factorsNeck Disability IndexOswestry Disability Index
spellingShingle Sebastian Glowinski
Aleksandra Bryndal
Agnieszka Grochulska
Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
PeerJ
Spinal pain
Physiotherapists
Risk factors
Neck Disability Index
Oswestry Disability Index
title Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
title_full Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
title_fullStr Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
title_short Prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in Poland
title_sort prevalence and risk of spinal pain among physiotherapists in poland
topic Spinal pain
Physiotherapists
Risk factors
Neck Disability Index
Oswestry Disability Index
url https://peerj.com/articles/11715.pdf
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