Muscular Fitness and Work Ability among Physical Therapists

Yasmín Ezzatvar, Joaquín Calatayud, Lars Louis Andersen, Edgar Ramos Vieira, Rubén López-Bueno and José Casaña
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Yasmín Ezzatvar: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Joaquín Calatayud: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Lars Louis Andersen: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Edgar Ramos Vieira: Department of Physical Therapy, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Rubén López-Bueno: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
José Casaña: Exercise Intervention for Health Research Group (EXINH-RG), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-10

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.

Keywords: work ability index; physical performance; aging; physiotherapists; occupational health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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