Are Practicing Physiotherapists Physically Fit? An Observational Study on Fitness during Direct Clinical Care

Background: Physiotherapists need to maintain high physical fitness due to the demands of their profession. However, they may not consistently achieve optimal fitness potentially affecting their productivity.

Aim: To assess physical fitness levels among physiotherapists using standardized field-based tests.

Sample size: 40

Study design: Observational study.

Source of Data: Physiotherapist practicing in clinics, hospitals and medical institutions.

Methods: 40 physiotherapists aged (21–35 years) were recruited as per the selection criteria and assessed via push-up test, wall squat test, plank hold test and toe-touch test.

Results: The mean push-up count was 9.58 (23.95%) of participants classified as Poor. Wall squat test showed 40% unable to hold for >30 seconds. Plank hold average was 71.5 seconds, (45%) as Below Average or Poor. Flexibility assessment showed average results, with no participants achieving excellent scores.

Conclusion: These findings highlight suboptimal physical fitness among physiotherapists, raising concerns about their overall health and functional capacity.