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Physiotherapists

1. Most Common Work-Related Pain Areas for Physiotherapists

- Lower Back Pain (Most frequent) – Due to bending, lifting, and manual therapy. 

- Neck & Shoulder Pain – From prolonged standing, looking down, or manual techniques. 

- Wrist & Hand Pain (e.g., De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, thumb arthritis) – From repetitive gripping, mobilizations, or soft tissue work. 

- Elbow Pain (e.g., lateral epicondylitis – “PT’s elbow”) – From overuse in manual resistance or mobilizations. 

- Knee & Hip Pain – From prolonged standing or awkward postures during treatments. 

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2. Main Causes & Risk Factors

 - Manual Therapy Overuse: Repetitive joint mobilizations, deep tissue massage, or trigger point release. 

- Poor Body Mechanics:  

·       Bending at the waist instead of hips/squatting. 

·       Twisting while lifting or treating patients. 

·       Standing in one position for too long. 

- Improper Treatment Table Height: Too low or too high, forcing awkward postures. 

- Lack of Breaks: Continuous treatments without stretching or rest. 

- Patient Handling: Transferring or assisting heavy/immobile patients. 

- Stress & Fatigue: Leading to muscle tension and poor posture. 


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3. Prevention & Management Strategies

 A. Ergonomic Adjustments  

·       Adjust Treatment Tables to elbow height when standing. 

·       Use Assistive Devices (e.g., stools, adjustable beds, hoists for patient transfers). Supportive Shoes (e.g., orthopedic or cushioned footwear for long standing hours). 

B. Proper Body Mechanics 

·       Bend at Knees/Hips (not the back) when lifting or working low. 

·       Keep Patient Close to avoid overreaching. 

§  -Alternate Hands during mobilizations to avoid unilateral overuse. 

·       Use Larger Muscle Groups (e.g., legs/core) instead of small hand/wrist muscles. 

 

C. Exercise & Self-Care 

·       Strengthen Core & Postural Muscles (e.g., Pilates, yoga, resistance training). 

·       -Stretch Regularly (especially chest, neck, wrists, and hamstrings). 

·       Self-Massage & Foam Rolling for tight muscles (e.g., traps, forearms).        

.       Ice/Heat Therapy for acute flare-ups. 


 D. Work Modifications 

·       -Rotate Techniques (e.g., alternate between manual therapy, exercise, and electrotherapy). 

·       Limit High-Risk Techniques (e.g., minimize deep pressure if experiencing wrist pain). 

·       -Take Micro-Breaks (e.g., 30 sec stretch every 30 mins). 

·       -Use Tools (e.g., massage guns, straps, or mobilization devices to reduce hand strain). 

 

E. Seek Professional Help if Needed 

·       Physiotherapy for Yourself (e.g., seeing a colleague for MSK pain). 

·       Ergonomic Assessment at the workplace. 

·       Consider Acupuncture/Dry Needling for chronic pain. 


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4. Long-Term Solutions


• Advocate for Safe Workloads (avoid excessive patient numbers per day). 

• Use Technology (e.g., telehealth for non-manual consults). 

• Educate New PTs on injury prevention early in their careers.