Affiliations: Department of Physiotherapy, Centre for the
Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Department of Occupational Therapy, Centre for the
Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Department of Epidemiology {\&} Biostatistics,
Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Department of Occupational Therapy, Western Michigan
University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Md. Shofiqul Islam, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Department
of Physiotherapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, CRP – Chapain,
Savar, Dhaka 1343, Bangladesh. Tel.: +88 01725 145973; E-mail: physio.shofiqul@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
professionals are at high risk of developing occupational musculoskeletal
injuries globally. Musculoskeletal pain is the most common problem. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of discomfort that physiotherapy
and occupational therapy health professionals report while working at a
physical rehabilitation centre. PARTICIPANTS: Physiotherapy and
occupational therapy professionals which include both graduate and diploma
physiotherapists and occupational therapists as well as physiotherapy and
occupational therapy assistants. METHODS: A self administered
questionnaire (survey) was conducted on a convenient sample of 101
physiotherapy and occupational therapy personnel. RESULTS: The mean
age of the 101 participants was 27.8 (± 4.5) years and most of the
participants (62%) had less than 5 years of work experience. Ninety-five
percent of the participants complained of work related pain. Most of the
participants reported pain in the lower back (n=84) followed by upper back
(n=71) and neck (n=66). Significant associations were found for pain in
ankles/feet with age (p=0.05) and pain in neck with gender (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Physiotherapy and occupational therapy professionals
suffer from pain in relation to the work they do as therapists which may be due
to non-practice of appropriate body mechanics. Mechanism to assess level of
practice during dealing with patients may be introduced to enable corrective
measures. Incentives should be considered for appropriate practice.
