ARTICLE REPORT 2

Article Report 2

School of Occupational Therapy Student, Pacific Northwest University

OTH 505: Foundations of Inquiry

Dr. Malcolm Cutchin

October 20th, 2023

Darragh, A. R., Huddleston, W., & King, P. (2009). Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and

disorders among occupational and physical therapists. American Journal of

Occupational Therapy, 63(3), 351–362.

https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.63.3.351
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Article Report 2

It is widely documented that nurses and physical therapists are at risk of experiencing

work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WMSDs) but occupational therapists have little

documentation on the matter. Darragh et al. (2009) study provided sufficient statements on the

need for information on musculoskeletal injuries among occupational therapists. They do this by

utilizing the established knowledge about physical therapists to be used as their control group

when collecting data to strengthen the study's external validity. The authors were very specific

on the data needed for collection allowing the study to be well-rounded for their goal.

The systematic sample was gathered by getting a random sample of 50% of both

occupational and physical therapists in the state of Wisconsin and sending them a survey. The

survey included a self-identifying injuries report for physical therapists and another to identify

WMSDs (Darragh et al., 2009). Out of the 3,297 surveys mailed they acquired a response rate of

36% of a total of 1,189 responses (Darragh et al., 2009). The sampling size of the project

strengthened the study but weakened it by being state-specific and with a low response rate.

The sample was gathered by sending a survey to both occupational and physical

therapists in the state of Wisconsin establishing the analysis type as posttest-only control group

design. The rationale for utilizing a basic descriptive analysis matched the approach to their

study. The control being the physical therapist and age, body mass index (BMI), years of

experience, amount of hours working, and practice environments could predict causal factors

with the rate of work-related and/or work-related musculoskeletal disorders. For both

professions, the main factors of musculoskeletal injuries were the area of practice environment,

BMI, and number of hours working. The rate of injury was similar in both professions despite

the differences in practice environments. Low back pain was the highest rated and the most
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prevalent in both professions. Occupational and physical therapists both sought treatment, and

about a quarter to a third of the therapists considered changing professions because of the

injuries. They were inferring that work-related (WRI) injuries and WMSD were just as prevalent

for occupational therapists as physical therapists.

The authors did a great job establishing the knowledge of existing literature and the

prevalence of the careers of occupational and physical therapists. The study findings match the

discussed literature where occupational therapists and physical therapists equally show a

significant risk of WRI and WMSDs by other studies showing similar data. They sufficiently

stated the limitations of the article about noting the self-report survey, cross-sectional approach,

the 36% response could imply bias, the severity of the injury, and the generalizability of the

sample being only in Wisconsin. The conclusion solidified the study adequately by

acknowledging the prevalence of the study.

The value of the study is that it brought more proven evidence of the risk of WRI and

WMSD for occupational therapists. While it can't be stated that the prevalence of the problem

represents the whole country it provides data that can support other studies which makes it

incredibly valuable. I will even argue that studies like this are the reason states have become a

no-lift state to further prevent these injuries from happening. This study can not however provide

data about predicting injuries (Darragh et al., 2009). The authors would have benefited from

using an additional survey to establish the cause of the injuries. Regardless, the authors collected

data that was similar in conclusion establishing reliability to their point.

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References

Darragh, A. R., Huddleston, W., & King, P. (2009). Work-related musculoskeletal injuries and

disorders among occupational and physical therapists. American Journal of

Occupational Therapy, 63(3), 351–362.

https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.63.3.351