Department of Physical Therapy, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL, 35229, USA.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 May 14;23(1):453. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05412-8.
Physical therapists (PTs) are at increased risk for development of work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs) due to the physically intensive, constant hands-on nature of the profession. The objectives of this systematic review were to examine the literature on WRULDs among PTs, specifically the (1) 1-year prevalence, (2) workplace risk factors, (3) consequences, and (4) coping strategies utilized to mitigate WRULDs.
A comprehensive search of the literature was performed using PubMed, CINHAL, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used for conducting this systematic review. Studies that reported the 1-year prevalence of WRULDs among PTs, workplace risk factors for WRULDs, consequences of WRULDs, and coping strategies utilized by PTs were included.
Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The 1-year WRULDs prevalence rates varied widely, with thumb disorders having the highest prevalence (7.6-52.5%), followed by wrist and hand disorders (5-66.2%), shoulder disorders (3.2-45.2%), and elbow disorders (4-16%). Reported risk factors included treating a high volume of patients and frequent performance of manual therapy techniques. Consequences included interference with PTs' personal and professional activities while coping strategies involved alterations to the work environment, techniques used, and workload.
WRULDs remain a persistent threat to the PT workforce, likely due to the hands-on, physically intensive nature of professional activities. An essential strategy to reduce WRULDs is to improve clinicians' awareness of WRULDs, workplace risk factors, and subsequent consequences of WRULDs. Effective coping strategies are critical to preserve, protect, and prolong PTs' use of the upper limbs.
由于职业的体力强度高、持续的手工操作性质，物理治疗师（PT）发生与工作相关的上肢疾病（WRULDs）的风险增加。本系统评价的目的是检查关于 PT 上肢疾病的文献，特别是（1）1 年患病率，（2）工作场所危险因素，（3）后果，以及（4）用于减轻 WRULDs 的应对策略。
使用 PubMed、CINHAL、EMBASE 和 Google Scholar 进行全面的文献检索。本系统评价遵循《系统评价和荟萃分析的首选报告项目》（PRISMA）指南。纳入报告 PT 上肢疾病 1 年患病率、上肢疾病工作场所危险因素、上肢疾病后果以及 PT 采用的应对策略的研究。
符合纳入标准的研究有 12 项。1 年 WRULDs 患病率差异很大，拇指疾病的患病率最高（7.6-52.5%），其次是腕关节和手部疾病（5-66.2%）、肩部疾病（3.2-45.2%）和肘部疾病（4-16%）。报告的危险因素包括治疗大量患者和频繁进行手动治疗技术。后果包括干扰 PT 的个人和专业活动，而应对策略包括改变工作环境、使用的技术和工作量。
WRULDs 仍然是 PT 劳动力的持续威胁，可能是由于专业活动的手工操作、体力强度高的性质所致。减少 WRULDs 的一个重要策略是提高临床医生对 WRULDs、工作场所危险因素以及 WRULDs 的后续后果的认识。有效的应对策略对于保护、保护和延长 PT 使用上肢至关重要。
