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Chiropractic & Manual Therapies
Published in: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research

The epidemiology of work-related musculoskeletal injuries among chiropractors in the eThekwini municipality

Authors: Almay Lamprecht, Keseri Padayachy

Published in: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Chiropractors are a unique group of health care professionals who are at risk for developing work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Diversity of daily practice imposes different physical demands on the chiropractor. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in chiropractors in eThekwini municipality and selected risk factors associated with these work-related musculoskeletal injuries.

Methods

The design was a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study utilising a self-administered questionnaire, developed specifically for this research. The questionnaire contained sections on personal and practice demographics, with questions pertaining to the single most severe work-related musculoskeletal injury, as well as the second and third most severe work-related musculoskeletal injury.

Results

A response rate of 64% was obtained (n = 62). The life-time prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal injuries was 69% with a predominance of injuries to the upper extremity (50%) and lower back (28.3%). The hand/wrist was the most common anatomical site of injury (31.5%) followed by the lower back (28.3%). Number of years in practice was considered a risk factor as most injuries occurred within the first five years of practice (41.6%). The majority of injuries affected the soft tissue, including ligament sprains (27.5%) and muscle strains (26.6%) and occurred while the practitioner was performing manipulation (38.2%) of the lumbosacral (80.8%) area with the patient in the side posture (61.5%).

Conclusions

The results concur with other studies on work-related musculoskeletal injuries in chiropractors and add insight into risk factors predisposing this population to injury.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The epidemiology of work-related musculoskeletal injuries among chiropractors in the eThekwini municipality
Authors
Almay Lamprecht
Keseri Padayachy
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 2045-709X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-019-0238-y

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