A CASE STUDY: ASSESSMENT OF EQUIPMENT DESIGN, TASK AND RISK OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Abdul Halim Bin AHMAD ZAKI1,Nor Kamaliana Binti KHAMIS1,Roslizawati Binti NAWAWI2, Muhammad Aizat Bin SHAMSUDIN1
1Centre of Materials Engineering and Smart Manufacturing (MERCU), Faculty of Engineering and Built Environtment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Physiotherapy Department, KPJ Healthcare University College, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
ABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is one of the most common injuries to the physiotherapists at the treatment center. There are many factors leading to this problem, such as repeated movement, manual handling of heavy equipment, and inappropriate posture. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the risk of MSDs among physiotherapist and investigate the specific treatment designs. This study used questionnaire method that has been distributed to patients and physiotherapist at one of the treatment center in Peninsular Malaysia. Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) was performed also on the physiotherapist to evaluate the effectiveness of the equipment before and after improvements. There were three equipment that have been considered in this study; hydro collator pack, luminous and non-luminous infrared machine. Based on the questionnaire, majority of the physiotherapists were exposed to the risk of MSDs in their occupational task. The REBA’s finding shows there is a decrement of the score after improvement have been made on the luminous machine. Based on paired sample tests on the REBA score before and after improvements, the P value (significance<0.05). It proves that there is a big different in the REBA score after the tools was modified. In conclusion, this study was related to assessments and improvements that can be performed on treatment equipment and the tasks among physiotherapist.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), Occupational Safety and Health, Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), Treatment equipment.