Muscular Fitness and Work Ability among Physical Therapists

Abstract

The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a validated and widely used tool in occupational research. However, normative values for physical therapists (PTs) by age and sex are lacking. Although the nature of PTs’ work is physically demanding, it is unknown whether muscular fitness is associated with their WAI. This study sought to provide reference WAI data for Spanish PTs and to evaluate the association between PTs’ muscular fitness and WAI. Data on WAI of 1005 PTs were collected using a questionnaire. A subgroup (n = 68) performed a battery of physical tests including grip strength, push-ups and back-extension endurance. Associations between muscular fitness and WAI were evaluated using logistic regression controlling for various confounders. PTs aged 50 years or older had lower WAI scores than their younger counterparts. PTs with high back-extension endurance scored 3.5 (95% CI) higher in the WAI than those with low endurance. No associations were found between grip strength or number of push-ups and WAI. Our findings seem to highlight the importance of muscular fitness in PTs, especially the back-extension endurance.

Work ability and physical fitness among aging workers: the Finnish Retirement and Aging Study

“…In these studies, muscular strength and endurance of upper body, trunk and lower body muscles were found to associate positively with work ability (Nygård et al 1991 ; Pohjonen, 2001 ; Smolander et al 2010 ), but findings were somewhat conflicting for cardiorespiratory fitness (Nygård et al 1991 ; Pohjonen 2001 ; Sörensen et al 2007 ). During the last 10 years, studies have focused on the associations between muscular strength (upper body, trunk) and work ability among middle-aged employees mostly from manual occupations, and modest associations have been found (Boschman et al 2017 ; Edlund et al 2012 ; Ezzatvar et al 2021 ). However, work life has changed during the last decades in the developed countries, as many physical work tasks have become less physically strenuous due to technological developments, and sedentary office work has become more common (Ng and Popkin 2012 ).…”

Are Work Demand, Support and Control Associated with Work Ability and Disability during Back Pain Treatment? A Prospective Explorative Study

“…Work demands and control differ between different healthcare professions and interventions must be tailored to this [ 41 ]. For instance, muscular fitness and age have been related to work ability among physical therapists [ 42 ]. A qualitative study has identified age, skills and training as possible barriers for returning to work among persons with musculoskeletal pain and reduced work ability.…”

Reference Values of Absolute and Relative Handgrip Strength in Chilean Schoolchildren with Intellectual Disabilities

“…The educational institutions for people with disabilities should prepare them for the acquisition of autonomy and necessary functional independence, which will allow them to develop and, as far as possible, acquire an occupation that commonly requires MS. In this way, it can act as a facilitator of neuromuscular actions when standing [ 25 ], associated with carrying out work activities [ 26 ]. Prospective studies that analyze HGS behavior over time present different trends in the follow-up of children, adolescents [ 27 ] and adults [ 28 ].…”