Thursday, October 19, 2006

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH IN PHYSICAL THERAPY POPULATION

Occupational health in physiotherapists

Physiotherapy practice expose therapist to infection, harmful chemicals, radio frequency, electromagnetic radiation and work­-related musculoskeletal disorders. workers in health care facilities are exposed to wide range of pathogens, including HIV, hepatitis B virus, mycobacterium tuberculosis and rubella. Besides these hydrotherapy, electro physical agent and lifting are most commonly reported work hazards for physiotherapist.

Hydrotherapy exposes the skin to water and its constituent chemicals and contaminants, which may produce Dermatitis, Fungal infection.

Electro Physical agents like Short wave and Micro wave risk female therapist to congenital abnormality in 1st trimester, Miscarriage. It produces Impotence, and Heart disease in male therapists.

Physical therapist populations are highly involved in repetitive activities, which lead to work related musculo skeletal disorders (WMSD), Like LBP and RSI. With regards to prevalence of injury to a particular body part, Highest occurrence of WMSD among therapist is Low back (45%), Wrist and Hand (29%) Upper Back (28%) Neck (24%) Shoulder, Elbow, Hip and Thigh, Knees, Ankle and Feet (each Less than 20%)

PREVENTION
Simple step done before and during tasks can prevent most of the occupational related hazards, this also help the body to counteract strains that come with the occupation.
a) Proper work practice
Ø Stretching –warming up prior to the activity
Ø Modify technique or Environment to avoid the stress on therapist body that causes injury.
Ø Make changes such as adjustment to postures during therapy, Adjustment to height of Bed, Pause to Stretch or Change posture.
Ø Make use of Height adjustable Beds, Lifting belts, Slide boards, Splints and
Stool on casters.
Ø Personal Hygiene in hydrotherapy
Ø Use of Apron, goggles ect.. while using electro physical agent
s


b) Job Rotation and Out sourcing.

v obtain assistance fro m another individual to reduce the load during tasks
such as transferring patients or working with Heavy patients.
v TEAM WORK


c) Reactive

Respond to discomfort or injury by
ü Use of technique to avoid aggravation of discomfort or injury.
ü Substitute electrotherapy for some manual therapy
ü Use a different part of the body to a administer a manual technique or stop
a technique that cause or aggravates discomfort or injury.

Health is around us, So we tend to ignore our health. If We the medical people take a little attention in this factor we can avoid most of the work related problems in our physiotherapy practice.

Courtesy : Mr.Sameer Babu, BPT, Mr.Arun.B, M.P.T
Physiotherapists, K.G Hospital, Coimbatore.
www.arunmpt.blogspot.com, sameerphysio310@yahoo.com, arunmpt100@yahoo.co.in

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