Occupational Injuries and Patient Lift Usage Among Physical Rehabilitation Therapists

Details

• Personal Author:
  Burnfield JM ; Irons SL ; Ma J ; McCrory B
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence and exposure risk factors for work-related injuries (WRIs) among rehabilitation PTs and PTAs. METHODS: A cross-sectional research survey was conducted among 170 PTs and 67 PTAs at 51 free-standing rehabilitation hospitals and rehabilitation units embedded in general hospitals in the Midwestern states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The prevalence of WRIs and significant risk factors for developing WRIs were determined for PTs and PTAs. RESULTS: The 1-year prevalence of WRIs among PTs and PTAs working in physical rehabilitation was 29.5%. Multifaceted causes were identified including frequently bending/twisting, over-exerting force during patient handling activities, inadequate lifting devices, and lack of ongoing training for mechanical lifting device usage. CONCLUSIONS: Equipment usage barriers point to a critical need for technology creation, research, and education to advance worker safety while simultaneously enhancing patient outcomes. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Safe Patient Handling Cross Sectional Studies Injuries Lifting MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Patient Handling Physical Therapy Safety Equipment Work-related Injuries
• ISSN:
  1053-8127
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Iowa ; Kansas ; Missouri ; Montana ; Nebraska ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  195-205
• Volume:
  35
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067970
• Citation:
  J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2022 Jan; 35(1):195-205
• Contact Point Address:
  Bernadette McCrory, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Montana State University, PO Box 173800, Bozeman, MT 59717-3800, USA
• Email:
  bernadette.mccrory@montana.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of Iowa
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9ae656d167f1d26cf6fa589ffd5068c87ae06c3f829c4d748b16575470dae1c2f7d50958320717249140625291660753e3642ff14f99992742e199691d6501fe
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/230202/cdc_230202_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 680.08 KB ]