ABSTRACT
Workers in the healthcare industry who perform physically demanding patient handling tasks as part of their jobs, such as nurses, nurses' aides, physical therapists, and healthcare technicians, are at high risk for development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). These workers are exposed to significant risk factors for MSDs when lifting and moving heavy patients and equipment, pushing and pulling heavy equipment, working in extreme postures, and standing for long periods of time without adequate rest periods. When the physical demands of the job exceed the capabilities of the worker, the worker is at increased risk of developing an MSD, such as back pain. Moreover, the risk of developing a work-related MSD is even greater when the worker is exposed to more than one risk factor at the same time (NIOSH 1997; National Research Council and Institute of Medicine 2001).
