Characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders and satisfaction with in-house physical therapy clinics in office workers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shin, DooChul

Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, 7 Kyungnamdaehak-ro, Masanhappo-gu, Gyeongsangnam-do, Changwon 51767, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 55 249 2017; Fax: +82 505 999 2173; E-mail: icandox77@kyungnam.ac.kr.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Musculoskeletal disorders are not properly managed in office workers because of their busy work life. In-house physical therapy is a good way to manage the musculoskeletal disorders in office workers. Despite the numerous advantages of in-house physical therapy, the establishment and research of in-house physical therapy were insufficient. OBJECTIVE:The purpose this study was to determine the characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers and to investigate their satisfaction with in-house physical therapy clinics and the associated factors. METHODS:In this study, 664 office workers who used in-house physical therapy clinics were surveyed for characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders and satisfaction with in-house physical therapy clinics. RESULTS:Of these office workers, the most common causes of damage were nontraumatic (36.8%) and the most common lesion sites were the neck (30.3%) and lower back (25.6%). In the empirical characteristics of in-house physical therapy clinics, basic thermoelectric treatments were the most common (46.8%). The satisfaction with in-house physical therapy clinic was generally high. In addition, the cause of damage and treatment contents affected treatment-related and functional return-related satisfaction. CONCLUSION:In-house physical therapy, including therapeutic exercises and self-management education, is a good system to manage musculoskeletal disorders in office workers.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal diseases, personal satisfaction, return to work, health care surveys, health maintenance organization

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-192943

Journal: Work, vol. 63, no. 3, pp. 369-374, 2019