Objective: Work related problems are important parts of musculoskeletal disorders. Because of prolonged use of upper extremity by physiotherapists, they are at risk of different work related disorders particularly upper extremity disorders. The purpose of this project was to determine the prevalence of upper limb disorder in physiotherapists of Tehran city.  

Materials & Methods: A structured questionnaire consisting of questions on personal and occupational characteristics and prevalence of upper limb disorders was developed and sent to 110 randomly selected physiotherapists working in Tehran city.

Results: Data analysis demonstrated that the most physiotherapists have had upper limb disorders so that 74% of men and 89% of women reported at least one problem in their upper extremities. Shoulders and wrists were the most prevalent site of disorder, respectively. There was also a significant correlation between clinical working history and the prevalence of upper extremity disorders (P<0.05). 

Conclusion: The results revealed high prevalence of upper extremity disorders in physiotherapists and therefore adequate attention is necessary to prevent such health problems in physiotherapists