Publication: Enhancing physiotherapists physical health by mitigating musculoskeletal disorder risks with the use of gravity compensating device
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Date
2024-07-09
Authors
Loke, Yan Kuang
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Abstract
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a significant occupational health issue for physiotherapists involved in providing physical therapy services to stroke patients who are paralyzed or disabled. This research delves into the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists during the rehabilitation of the lower limbs of paralyzed patients, with a specific emphasis on evaluating the effectiveness of Gravity Compensating Device (GCD) as an intervention approach. The collected data such bed reaction force, ground reaction force, and XSENS body postural data was meticulously processed in the Anybody Modelling System software to identify lumbar load on intervertebral discs based on hip flexion, hip abduction and adduction, and knee rotation. The data in graphical form is processed to obtain the mean value. REBA scores are obtained from XSENS MVN Analyze. The primary objective of this research was to demonstrate the effectiveness of GRD in reducing and mitigating risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders related to work among physiotherapists. The study had shown that GRD can reduce lumbar load on all intervertebral discs in the spine through a spring mechanism. The most significant reduction of lumbar loads happened on L5/S1 where the reduction was approximately 1119.9 N for KRT exercise from the load value for conventional method of 5250.9 N. The largest AP shear load showed the largest reduction for the same exercises where the reduction was equivalent to about 346.1 N from 215% weight for conventional method to 164.9% weight. The risks of WMSD were revealed to be reducible via decreased REBA scores due to posture improvement by the GRD. Peak automated REBA scores for HF, HAA and KRT exercises were 7, 6, and 5 for conventional method, while these values were reduced to 4 for all exercises executed with intervention. Nonetheless, lumbar load reduction by GCD was limited, and the lumbar load on physiotherapists for some rehabilitation exercises could not be reduced to below the threshold limits recommended by NIOSH. The WMSD risks were not alleviated entirely to a low risk level (REBA score of 3), and hence proved the limitation of the GCD in aiding physiotherapists’ health.