Preserving the Bedside Nurse: Grip Strength and Orthopedic Problems Among Nurses and Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Bedside nurses and nursing students are at increased risk of musculoskeletal injury due to the physicality and complexity of their work. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between grip strength and orthopedic injuries or pain among nurses and nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study of nursing staff and nursing students at a health sciences university was conducted. The survey consisted of work-related demographics, exercise habits, and validated scales. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to collect information on musculoskeletal problems. Anthropomorphic measures included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and grip strength. Logistic regression was performed. Findings: Participants with grip strength at or above the national average had significantly lower odds of self-reported orthopedic problems, B = 0.86, OR = 2.35, p =.01, indicating participants with grip strength at or above national average were 135% less likely to report orthopedic problems compared to participants with grip strength below the national average. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Healthcare workers in direct patient care who have lower grip strength may be at increased risk for injuries. Nursing staff and students with below average grip strength were more likely to experience orthopedic problems. Increased muscle mass and grip strength are known to effectively reduce the risk of upper extremity injuries. Nurse leaders may benefit from promoting grip strengthening activities among employees to prevent workplace injuries. Further research is needed to understand the biophysiological mechanisms, confirm the findings of this study and evaluate effective interventions.

A Cross-sectional Study Evaluating Grip Strength and Associated Factors in Turkish Nurses and Nursing Students

“…The signi cantly higher rates of MSK complaints in both upper and lower body among staff nurses highlight the physical demands and potential occupational hazards associated with nursing work(6). These ndings underscore the need for targeted ergonomic interventions and preventive strategies to reduce the risk of MSK disorders in nursing professionals (32). However, the exercise habits, duration, and intensity were found to be similar between the two groups in our sample.…”

“…Scores of perceived stress and number of reported MSK problems were negatively associated with grip strength in our study. Similarly, a cross-sectional study found that participants with grip strength at or above the national average had signi cantly lower odds of self-reported orthopaedic problems, indicating a 135% reduced likelihood of experiencing orthopaedic issues compared to those with grip strength below the national average (32).…”

“…Nurses who are not physically t or do not lead an active lifestyle may be at high risk (11). Other factors associated with workplace injuries or musculoskeletal disorders include fatigue, years of work, consecutive shift schedule, variability of shifts, muscle mass, physical capacity, grip strength, and upper body strength (12)(13)(14)(15). Nursing students may also encounter unfamiliar, stressful environments and physically demanding workloads during clinical and laboratory practice.…”

“…The literature suggests that grip strength testing is a useful tool for assessing the functional capacity of healthcare workers (12). Factors likely to affect grip strength include age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, working hours, working time in the profession, consecutive shifts, stress, exercise habits, and physical strength required during work in the clinical eld (1,3,4,15,17,18).…”

“…Determination of grip strength and related factors will contribute to the development of recommendations for the planning of future interventions to increase nurses' job performance and career longevity, as well as protect the health of nursing students and currently working nurses. There are studies conducted in other countries to determine grip strength and related factors in nurses and nursing students (12,17,18). However, there are only studies on the subject in different populations other than nurses and nursing students in Turkey (19)(20)(21).…”