Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, VIC 3199 Australia.
University of Western Sydney, School of Science and Health, Penrith, NSW 1797 Australia.
J Foot Ankle Res. 2017 Jan 11;10:3. doi: 10.1186/s13047-016-0185-y. eCollection 2017.
Workplace injury is an international costly burden. Health care workers are an essential component to managing musculoskeletal disorders, however in doing this, they may increase their own susceptibility. While there is substantial evidence about work-related musculoskeletal disorders across the health workforce, understanding risk factors in specific occupational groups, such as podiatry, is limited. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of work related low back pain in podiatrists.
This was an international cross-sectional survey targeting podiatrists in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The survey had two components; general demographic variables and variables relating to general musculoskeletal pain in general or podiatry work-related musculoskeletal pain. Multivariable regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with musculoskeletal stiffness and pain and low back pain intensity. Thematic analysis was used to group comments podiatrists made about their musculoskeletal health.
There were 948 survey responses (5% of Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom registered podiatrists). There were 719 (76%) podiatrists reporting musculoskeletal pain as a result of their work practices throughout their career. The majority of injuries reported were in the first five years of practice ( = 320, 45%). The body area reported as being the location of the most significant injury was the low back (203 of 705 responses, 29%). Being female ( < 0.001) and working in private practice ( = 0.003) was associated with musculoskeletal pain or stiffness in the past 12 months. There were no variables associated with pain or stiffness in the past four weeks. Being female was the only variable associated with higher pain ( = 0.018). There were four main themes to workplace musculoskeletal pain: 1. Organisational and procedural responses to injury, 2. Giving up work, taking time off, reducing hours, 3. Maintaining good musculoskeletal health and 4. Environmental change.
The postures that podiatrists hold while treating patients appear to impact on musculoskeletal pain and stiffness. Recently graduated and female podiatrists are at higher risk of injury. There is a need for the profession to consider how they move and take care of their own musculoskeletal health.
工作场所受伤是国际上的一项昂贵负担。医疗保健工作者是管理肌肉骨骼疾病的重要组成部分，但在这样做的过程中，他们可能会增加自己患病的风险。虽然有大量关于整个医疗保健工作者群体的与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病的证据，但对特定职业群体（如足病学）的风险因素的了解有限。本研究的主要目的是确定足病医生与工作相关的下背痛的患病率和强度。
这是一项针对澳大利亚、新西兰和英国足病医生的国际横断面调查。该调查有两个组成部分；一般人口统计学变量和一般肌肉骨骼疼痛或足病相关肌肉骨骼疼痛的变量。多变量回归分析用于确定与肌肉骨骼僵硬和疼痛以及下背痛强度相关的因素。主题分析用于对足病医生关于其肌肉骨骼健康的评论进行分组。
共有 948 份调查回复（澳大利亚、新西兰和英国注册足病医生的 5%）。有 719 名（76%）足病医生报告说，由于工作实践，他们在整个职业生涯中都有肌肉骨骼疼痛。报告的大多数伤害发生在实践的头五年（ = 320，45%）。报告受伤最严重的身体部位是下背部（203 名 705 名受访者）。女性（ < 0.001）和在私人执业（ = 0.003）与过去 12 个月的肌肉骨骼疼痛或僵硬有关。在过去四周内，没有与疼痛或僵硬相关的变量。女性是唯一与更高疼痛相关的变量（ = 0.018）。工作场所肌肉骨骼疼痛有四个主要主题：1. 对伤害的组织和程序反应，2. 放弃工作、休假、减少工作时间，3. 保持良好的肌肉骨骼健康，4. 环境变化。
足病医生在治疗患者时的姿势似乎会影响肌肉骨骼疼痛和僵硬。最近毕业的和女性足病医生受伤的风险更高。该行业需要考虑如何移动和照顾自己的肌肉骨骼健康。
