A Survey of Musculoskeletal Disorders among Massage Practitioners

• Main Authors: Dai-Ying Wu, 吳岱螢
• Other Authors: Cheng-Lung Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/49622648516960382167

碩士 === 朝陽科技大學 === 工業工程與管理系 === 103 === The physically demanding nature of massage therapy has revealed an increasing prevalence in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among massage practitioners. Currently, research investigating massage profession has focused on providing empirical evidence for the benefits of massage therapy as a treatment. Little attention has been paid on the WMSDs issues among massage practitioners. A worksite visit with massage practitioners was executed to recognize the work environment risk factors and the operation performance. A survey using Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was conducted for the visually impaired masseurs and beauticians to explore the WMSDs risk factors. Twenty-three worksites (including 18 massage centers and 5 beauty shops) were visited and 300 questionnaires were completed (including 200 visually impaired masseurs and 100 beauticians). The results showed that the visually impaired massage center basically served as finger massage, however, beauticians served with diversity such as oil massage, finger massage, skin care and make up. The results of the questionnaire showed that 89.3% subjects had musculoskeletal complaints in the past 12 months. The shoulder (64.9%) , lower back (61.6%) and hand/wrist (57.8%) were the highest three body parts with musculoskeletal complaints. Chi-square test, Spearman’s correlation coefficients and logistic regression were used to analyze the uncomfortable musculoskeletal parts. The musculoskeletal complaint rate among massage practitioners was higher than the other practitioners. Improvement measures should be made to prevent the WMSDs for the massage therapists.