Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in physiotherapists of the city of Londrina

Abstract

This study had the purpose of determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in physiotherapists of the city of Londrina.
Participated in this study 170 physiotherapists that answered a self-administered questionnaire approaching the following aspects: personal data, job-factor survey, symptom related at work, treatment and it's consequences. For the analysis of the variables were used the qui-square Test with correction of Yates and the Test of Fisher. Of the 170 professionals studied 80% individuals were of the feminine gender and with an average of 30,5 years. Of the all researched physiotherapists, 94,1% reported to present musculoskeletal symptoms during the last twelve months and 75,3% in the last seven days. The highest prevalence were in the following anatomical areas: neck, low back and shoulders. The
prevalence of symptoms was larger in the feminine gender and younger individuals. Observed a highest prevalence of sympomts in professionals that work in areas like gerontology, dermato-functional and neurology and in professionals that worm at homes. For the treatment of the symptoms 46,3% they opted for the selt-treatment. Due to the symptoms 10% of the professionals lost days of work and 19,4% stopped accomplishing domestic services. The present study found a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in physiotherapists of the city of Londrina, during the last twelve months as for the last seven days precedents to the self-application of the questionnaire, mainly in the spine area. The data demonstrated that the researched physiotherapists meet exposed to physical and emotional loads. Before the found results, it is done necessary the elaboration and implantation of strategies to soften the work load and to avoid illness.