P h y s io th e ra p y , J u n e 19 8 3, , o l 39, n o 2 31 R eferen ce s fis H A. (1964). Field of Appl ied Psychology. ^ M c G r a w - H i l l . New York. A Tist'isia A. (1968). Psychological Testing. The Macmillan Co.. Canad a. Kotler, P. (1972). M a r k e t i n g M a n a g e m e n t . Pre ntice-Hall. New Jersey. O s g oo d , C. E. (1952). T h e n a tu r e a n d m ea su re m e n t o f m eaning. P sychological Bulletin, 49, 197-237. Sp oe lstra, H. I. J. (1976). ’n Bedrvfsielkundige o nd e r so ek na die v e rb ru ik e rs be el d van h a n d e l s b a n k e in Suid-Afrika. P erspcktiew e in B edryfsielkunde, 2, 1-23. INDUSTRIAL/OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE B. M. J A H O L K O W S K I , M.C .S.P .* SUMMARY An overview o f th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d p r a c tic e o f Indu stria l/O cc u p a tio n a l P h ysio th e ra p y in G reat Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Sw eden a nd D e n m a rk is given. Training fa c ilitie s a nd courses available in each c ountry are m entioned. B arbara M c P h e e ’s recom m endations f o r the development o f this f i e l d o f p h y sio th e ra p y are q u o ted as suitable f o r S o u th A frica. IN T R O D U C T I O N Industrial ph y si o t h e r a p y m ay be seen as a pa rt of occupational health. P hy s io th e ra pi st s all o ve r the worl d should become m ore a w a r e o f their pot ent ial in this field in the face of increased empha sis on pr e v en tio n, b o t h from the medical profession a n d ind ust ria l concerns. Increased technology is leading to increased h a z a r d s at the m a n / m a c h in e interface. Preventive medicine is slowly being suppl an ted by “ to tal w o r k e r well-being” in O c c u p a t io n a l or Industrial Heal th D e p a r t m e n t s . GREAT BRITAIN The first ind ustr ial p h y si o th er a pi st star ted w or k in 1923 in •the medical division o f A r t h u r G ui n n e ss a n d Son in Du blin. From 1923 to 1947, when the As soc iat ion o f C h a r te r e d Physiotherapists in In d u s t r y ( A .C .P .I .) was f o r m e d as a Specific Interest G r o u p o f the C h a r te r e d Society of Physiotherapy (C.S .P .), industrial ph y si o t h e r a p y grew slowly, rema ini ng basically a d u p lic a tio n o f the hospital outpati ent d e p a r t m e n t in an ind ustria l setting. By 1979 A.C.P.I. m em be rsh ip s t o o d at over 100. D ue to the present econom ic sit ua ti on in Britain A .C .P .I. m em b e rs h i p has fallen to 70 in 1982. In du str ial ph y sio th era pi sts in 1979 were employed in over 14 different types o f in dustries a nd business concerns (see Table) The ratio betw een p h y s io th er a pi st s a nd em ployees was determined by the A .C .P .I. as o n e fulltime ph ys io th er a pi st to 4 0 0 0 e m p l o y e e s f or t h e r a p e u t i c , r e h a b i l i t a t i v e a n d preventive tr ea tm e n t. Chris H a y n e received a Fellowship from the C.S.P. in 1977 f or his d is se rt at io n entitled “ T he Physiotherapist in M o d e r n I n d u s t r y ” . He n o w specializes in Private pract iti on er, C a p e T o w n Received 26 F e b r u a r y 1983. O P S O M M I N G ’n O o r s ig van die o n t w i k k e l i n g en p r a k t y k van In d u strie le /B e ro e p sfisio te ra p ie in G root B rittanje, A ustralie, N u-Seeland, Finland, S w ede en D enem arke, w ord gegee. O pleidingsfasiliteite en k ursusse b e sk ik b a a r in e lk e la n d , word genoem. B arbara M cP hee se aanbevelings vir die o n tw ik k elin g van hierdie veld van fis io te ra p ie w ord aangehaal as g e s k ik vir S u id -A frik a . I N D U S T R I E S E M P L O Y I N G I N D U S T R IA L P H Y S I O T H E R A P I S T S IN U.K. (1979) Chemi cal s 13 Steel 13 C o n s u m e r Pr o d u c t s I 1 M o t o r a n d allied 10 Large offices 9 En g in eer in g 8 I nd u st ri al H e al t h units 4 Oil 3 A ir p or ts 4 D e p a r t m e n t stores 4 A t o m ic En erg y 1 Ai rcraft P r o d u c t i o n 1 P h a r m a c e u t i c a l 1 C on f e ct i o n er y 2 T o b a c c o 2 Film ( K o d a k ) 1 Fo rklift tr u ck s 1 F r o m T h e P h ys io th e r ap is t in M o d e r n I n d u st r y (1977). Fel low ship C.S.P. di sse rt ati on , C h ri s Ha y ne . O c c u p a t io n a l H e a l t h a n d E rg on o m ic s. He sums up the role o f the p h ys io th er a p is t in m o d e r n in dus tr y as being one of te a m w o r k with o t h er m em be rs o f the H e al t h a n d Safety G r o u p . H e says there a r e three m ai n fu nc tio n s o f the p h ys io th er a p is t in industry: • T o provi de a fully c o m p r e h en s iv e service for employees, be ing re as o n a b l y loca ted in r ela tio n t o their place o f work. • T o pr ev ent disease a n d injury, especially o f oc cu p a tio na l origin. R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) 32 F is io te ra p ie , J u n ie 1983, d e e l 39, n r 2 • T o provide e d u c a t i o n a n d advice as necessary, related to the health, safety a n d welfare o f the employees. Mr H a y n e stresses th a t the role o f the industrial ph ys i o t h er a p i st varies a c c or di n g t o the c o m po s iti on o f the team; for exam pl e, if an e r g o n o m i st is not em pl oy ed , the ph ys io th er a pi st c an u n d e r ta k e basic ergo nom ics . Ergonomics E rg o n o m i c s is defined, in the rules o f the E rg on om ic s Research Society, as the st ud y o f the relation be tween man a n d his oc c u p a ti o n , e q u ip m e n t a nd e n v ir o n m e n t , a n d pa rti cu la rly the ap pli cat ion o f a n a t o m ic a l , physiological a nd psychological k n o w le d ge to p r o b l e m s aris ing ther ef ro m. Training facilities T ra i n i n g facilities f or p h ys io th er a p is ts in O c c u p a tio na l He al th d o no t at present exist in the U.K. How eve r, local br a n ch e s o f the C. S.P. a n d the A.C .P .I. r un courses on va rio u s aspects o f oc cu pa tio n a l a n d industrial health, p ar ti cu l a r ly with re g ar d to the preventive aspect, a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s of co rrect m an u a l lifting a n d ha n dl in g techniques. T h r o u g h the He al th E du ca tio n O rg a n i za ti o n , which em p l o y s p hy sio th er a p ist s, courses are initiated for o t h e r m em be rs o f the H e al th a n d Safety tea m, for example. O c c u p a t io n a l a n d Ind ustr ial nurses a n d Safety Officers. In 1979 there were seven p h y s io th er a pi st s w o r k in g as g r a d u a t e erg on o mi sts , at universities, technical colleges, an d as c o n su l ta n t s to industry. The main t rai ni ng facilities in the U.K. are: • D e p a r t m e n t o f H u m a n S c i en c es . U n i v e r s i t y o f T ec hno log y. L o u g h b o r o u g h . Leics. • D e p a r t m e n t o f Appl ied Psychology. University o f Asto n, G o s t a G r e e n . Bi rm in g ha m . • D e p a r t m e n t o f Eng inee ring P ro d u c t io n . Birm in gha m. This d e p a r t m e n t has an Er g on o mi cs In f o r m a t io n Analysis C e n tr e which collects a n d disse mina tes e r go n om ic s in fo rm a tio n . • D e p a r t m e n t o f Building, M a n c h es t e r College o f Science a n d Te c hn ol og y, University o f Man ch ester. • D e p a r t m e n t o f Me ch ani cal Eng inee ring , University College, L o n d o n , AUSTRALIA }, A u s t r a l i a h a s t h r e e p i o n e e r s o f i n d u s t r i a l a n d o c cu p a ti o n a l p h y si ot he r a p y . B a rb ar a MePhee. e m p lo ye d as an O c c u p a t io n a l P h y s io th e r ap is t in the C o m m o n w e a l t h In stitute o f He al th at the University o f S y d n e v , is the first. She is involved in teach in g, research a n d c on sul tan cy. H e r m ain interest is er g o n o m i cs , a n d the design o f fu rn itu re to lessen stress fatigue on wor ke rs, p articula rly office workers. She is presently involved in research in tel e co m m u n i c at i o n s systems an d visual displ ay units ( V . D . U . ’s), with p a r tic u la r reference to work po stu re , cye-strain a n d tenos yno vit is of the wrist. Miss M c P h e e lectures on er g o no m ic s to first, se co nd, t h i r d a n d fo u r t h y e ar p h y si o t h e r a p y stud ents. She was a w a r d e d a Public He alt h Trav ell in g Fellowship by the A u s tr a l ia n N a t io n a l H e al t h a nd Medical Research Cou nc il in 1977. She visited No rt h Ame rica. Sc an d in av ia. E u r o p e a n d Bri tai n, wh er e she studied the scope, tea ching o r g a n iz a t i o n a n d practice o f oc cu p a ti o n a l p h y si o th er a py , a n d its role in o c c u p a ti o n a l health research. She is now stud yi ng for a M a st e rs degree in Public H e al t h . In 1979 she, a n d a n o t h e r p h ys i o t h er a p i st , Alan Howie, b o t h executive m em be rs o f the A u s tr a lia n Er go n om ic s Society, edited the p ro ceedings o f a co nf ere nce on e r g o n o m i c s a n d visual display units held in Sydne y a n d Me lb our ne. Th e secon d p i o n ee r in in du st ria l p hy si o t h e r a p y in A u st ra lia is Isobel Shaw. A l t h o u g h officially retired in 1976, she set ou t to p ro ve t h a t the ph ys io th er a pi st c an play a m aj o r role in the p re v en t io n o f accidents. She used her segmented mo del, “ Ba ck a ch e Bill” , to illustrate the effects o f incorrect m a n u a l lifting a n d h an d li n g in h e r lectures o n safety and p r ev ent ion to large co m p a ni es , c o m m u n i t y g r o u p s, and m em b e rs o f the A us tr a lia n Ph y s io t h e r ap y As soc iat ion at Biennial Cong re sse s in 1975 a n d 1977. S h a w (1977) writes on the role o f the p hy si o t h er a p i st in accident prev ent ion : the fu n d a m e n ta l aim s o f preventive phy sio th e ra p y are to develop g o o d p o stural habits, to lay down guidelines to avoid sk e le ta l and ligam entous strains, to develop goo d breathing control, a n d to teach habits o f genera! relaxation. T he th ird pi o n ee r in Aus tra lia is M a r g a r e t Bullock, the first Pr of es so r o f P hy s io th e ra py in Au stralia. She o b t ai n e d h er P h .D . with a thesis on a n t h r o p o m e t r y (the st u dy o f body dime nsi on s). In 1974 D r Bullock pu bl ish ed a p a p er in Control, an A u s tr a lia n j o u r n a l , on the general tr e a tm e n t a n d preventive role o f the p hy si o th er a p is t in ind ust ry . He r speciality is er go nom ics . There are a t pres ent fou r/ p h y si ot he r a p is ts in N.S.W. acting as c on su l ta n t s t o industry^ an d t r ad e un io n s a n d lecturing on er go n om ic s an d prev entiv e heal th care. T h er e a r c a ls o fifteen c o m m u n i ty health p h y si o th er a pi st s in New S o u t h Wales. Training in occupational physiotherapy B a r b a r a M cP he e states: P h ysio th e ra p ists are well equipped by their training to p r a c t i s e e r g o n o m i c s , p a r t i c u l a r l y b i o - m e c h a n i c s , anth ro p o m e try an d k inesiology (p a p e r prese nt ed at the C a ir o Co n gr e ss in S e p t e m b e r 1981 en titled " T h e de v el o p m en t o f O c c u p a t io n a l P h y s io t h e r ap y in A u s t r a l i a ” ). Th er e are five trai ni ng ins tit ut ion s in A u str al ia, a n d cour ses run for three to fou r years. In t hr ee states e r go n om ic s is t a u g h t at un d e r and p o s t - g r a d u a t e level. In 1983, a 10-hour unit entitled W ork a nd H e alth will be offered to third y ear st u d e n ts in N.S.W. T hi s un it aims to explain the role o f o c c u p a ti o n a l health pr ofessio nals a n d the ph ilo so p h y o f o c cu p a ti o n a l health practice. T w o ph y si o th er a p is ts hav e c o m p le te d the co ur se for the degree o f M a s t e r o f Public Heal th in O c c u pa tio n a l He al t h at the C o m m o n w e a l t h In stitute o f H e a l t h at the University o f Sydney. NEW ZEALAND Ind u str ial p hy si o t h e r a p y in New Z e a la n d is still in i t y infancy largely du e to the fact th at there are very few^ industries o f a size t o w a r r a n t a full-scale service. A u c k l an d , the largest city, has an industrial clinic em p l o y i n g a p h y si o th er a pi st . T h e Accident C o m p e n s a t i o n C o m m i ss io n r u n s a wide ra ng e o f accident p re ve n tio n schemes. P h ys io th e ra p is ts are invited to ta ke part. T h e C om m i ss io n empl oy s a p h y si o th er a pi st ex perienced in e r g o no m ic s to advise in du str y a n d to run preventive p r o g r am m es . P h ys io th e r ap is ts ta ke part actively in the tea ch in g o f sports coachcs, St. J o h n s A m b u l a n c e pe rso nn el, a n d in lecturing to all kin ds o f g r o u p s on self-care, accid en t p r e ven tio n a nd early m a n a g e m e n t o f injury. T h e E d u c a ti o n a n d Research C o m m itte e is also ne go tia tin g to hav e a p h y si o th er a p is t a tt a c h e d to p r i m a r y sc hools to adv ise on the above. FINLA ND T h e Fi nni sh As so c ia tio n o f I nd ust ri al P h ys iot he rap ist s was f o u n d e d in 1976. T h e p o p u l a t i o n o f F i n l a n d is 4 ' / ; million a n d th ere arc ov e r 80 p h y si o t h er a p i st s w o r k in g in o c c u p a t i o n a l h e a l t h c a r e . I n d u s t r i e s e m p l o y i n g p h y si ot he r a p is ts include steel factories, sawmills, mac hi ne R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) p h y s io th e ra p y , J u n e 1983, v o i 39, n o 2 33 factories, su ga r factories, bakeries, biscuit a n d choco lat e factories, state railways, s o m e ba n k s a n d an insur an ce c o m pa n y. Ind us tr ial ph y si o t h er a p i st s also w o r k in health centres which have been established jo intly by several concerns. B a r b ar a M c P h e e visited F i n l a n d in 1977. She r ep ort s t hat a formal g o v e r n m e n t f u n d e d system o f oc cu p a ti o n a l health e d u ca tio n has been de ve lo p ed a n d the p ot en ti al t o up g r a d e st a n d ar d s o f o c c u p a ti o n a l ph y si o t h e r a p y t h r o u g h research a nd e d u ca tio n exists only in Fi n l a n d . Eighty oc cu pa tio na l p hy sio th era pi sts a r e e m p l o y e d as follows: 14 at th e In stitute o f O c cu p a t io n a l He al th , eight at the cent ral office in Helsinki and the r e m a in d e r in large co m p a n i es , g r o u p o c c u p a tio n a l health services o r c o m m u n i t y health services. T r a i n i n g in e r g o n o m i cs is a va il ab le at: • T h e In stitute o f O c cu p a t io n a l He al th , Helsinki (courses o f o n e da y to f o u r weeks for thera pist s w or ki ng in o c cu p a ti o n a l health care, c o n te nt s b ein g o c c u pa tio n a l heal th care, o c cu p a ti o n a l safety a nd er gonomics). • T h e Public H e al t h sec tion o f the Ph y s io t h e r ap y In stitute in Helsinki, whe re specialist p hy sio th era pi sts do one y e ar ’s st ud y in o c c u p a ti o n a l h e al th a n d safety. SCANDINAVIA The first cong ress o f the Wo rld C o n fe d e r a ti o n for Physical T h e r a p y was held in L o n d o n in 1953. O n the last day o f this inaugural cong res s the main th em e was P hysical Therapy in Industry. A sy m p o si u m on P osture in In d u stry was pr esented by three p h s io th er a p is ts . Louise H e er in g (1953), who w or ke d at the Mu ni cip al Ho sp ita l in C o p e n h a g e n , r e po rt e d on her in vestigations in to po stu ra l stresses asso ci ate d with the se ated a n d s t a n d i n g work positions. As well as des cri bi ng t he c orr ec t way to lift using the bent k n ee-straight b ack tec hn iq ue , she discussed the correct seated position for typists a n d de alt in detail with the height o f the ch air in re lation to the desk, the d e pt h of the seat a nd the spinal s u p p o r t . This p a p e r was pr o b a b ly the first on e rg o no m ic s pr es en te d by a p h ys io th er a p is t. T h e secon d spe ak er, Astri Ostli (1953), s t a te d th at in N o r w a y great i m p or ta n ce was a t t a c h e d t o the ex am i n at io n o f the p a ti e n t ’s w or ki ng ha bits in o r d e r t o a sce rt ain the cause o f stress. The third sp ea ker , D a g m a r C a rl e so n o f Sw eden, was a full-time c on su l ta n t in in dus tr ial gy m nas tic s. She discussed g y m n a stic pauses in the work sit ua ti o n, which were conceived in 1920 a n d were by 1952 a n a cc ept ed p a r t o f w o r ki ng life in 100 ■ factories t h r o u g h o u t Sweden. She e m ph a si se d th at the 'g ym n ast ic pa use was o f se c o n d ar y i m p o r t a n c e to her work as a p hy si ot he ra p is t, but far m o re i m p o r t a n t in i m p r o v i n g work p os tu re s a n d p r o d u c i n g co rre ct physiological p a tt e rn s at w ork. Ideally this sh o u l d begin with sch oo lch il dr en . All these ideas were re vo lu t i o n a r y at the time, bu t to -d ay they are an a cce pt ed pa rt o f th e no r m al t r e a tm e n t routine, a n d the S c a nd in a vi an co u n tr i es rema in in the forefr ont o f industrial a n d o c c u p a ti o n a l ph ys io th er a p y. Sweden T h e Sw edish P h y s io t he r ap y E r g o n o m i c G r o u p was f o und ed in 1973. Initially th ere were 35 m em b e rs who w or ke d in a va riety o f in dustries a n d co m p a n i es as p a r t o f oc cu pa tio n a l health t eam s. T h e i r m e m b e rs h i p n o w st a n d s at ov e r 300. Th irt y per cent a r e em p l o y e d by local auth ori tie s, 50% by private in dustries a n d 20 % are p ri vat e p ra cti ti one rs with in du str ial clinics. T h e m aj o ri ty o f Swedish industrial p hy si o th er a pi st s de vo te 50% o f their time to r o ut in e tr e a tm e n ts a n d the o t h e r 50% to s h o p -f l o o r e r g o n o m i c s a nd e mployee e d u c a ti o n a l t ra in in g p r o g r a m m e s . Ov er 100 factories e m pl oy ph ys io th era p ist s. Training T he Swedish ph y si o t h e r a p y training does n o t deal with the subject o f e r g on o m ic s or o c c u p a ti o n a l health in any great detail. In an a tt e m p t to remed y this, the Swedish Ph y s io t h e r a p y As so c ia tio n , in c o n ju n c t io n with the Swedish Empl oye rs Fe d e ra tio n , h a s o r ga n iz ed c ou rse s in these subjects. T h e c ou rse s a r e o f f ou r week s’ d u r a t i o n , spre ad o v e r six m o n th s . Every cour se ha s been o ve r su b sc r ib e d so far. T h e following rules o f pr ofessional c o m pe te n c y for Swedish ind ustr ial ph ys io th era p ist s were c o n f ir m e d by the Swedish dele gat io n o f o c c u p a tio n a l h e al th in 1977: • T o b e c o m e an a u t h o r i z e d o c c u p a t i o n a l h e a l t h p h y s i ot he r a p is t, all p h y si ot he r a p is ts m u st have at least tw o y e a r s ’ p o s t - g r a d u a t e experience in social medical care, i.e. w o r k in g with o t h er ph y si o th er a pi st s u n d e r s up er vi sio n as in hospital. Also they must o b t a i n special e d u c a ti o n in o c c u p a tio na l health a p p r o v e d by the N a t io n a l B o a r d o f Safety a n d Heal th . • The a p p r o v e d e du c a ti o n is a r r a n g e d by the U n io n o f Swedish employers. • Because o f the ra p id e x p an s io n o f o c cu p a ti o n a l health p h y s i o t h e r a p y the a p p r o v e d e d u c a t i o n m ay be u n d e r t a k e n at the first o p p o r t u n it y . • It is pl an n e d in the fu tu re to insist on a t h r e e - m o n t h “ s u p e r i n te n d e d ” period o f w o r k in in du str y before profes sion al co m p e t en c y is gained. The p h ys io th er a pi st in o c cu p a ti o n a l he al th sh o u ld be directly s u b o r d i n a t e t o the he ad o f the o c c u p a ti o n a l heal th team in a post as registered physi ot her ap is t in oc cu p a tio n a l health (Ca nd ell , 1978). The Swedish P h ys io th e r ap y E rg o n o m i c s G r o u p is now affiliated to the A .C .P .I. This is th e first i m p o r t a n t step t o w a r d s the c re a tio n o f an In te r n a ti o n a l I nd u st ri al a n d E r g o n o m i c P h y s io t h e r ap y G r o u p . T h e Swedish g r o u p has a lr e ad y cre a te d links with their colleagues in N o rw ay , D e n m a r k a n d Fi n l a n d , in the s a m e way th a t the A .C .P .I. has A m e r ic an , Au st ra lia n, New Z e a la n d a n d S o u t h African m em b e rs who will, it is ho p e d, create their own g r o u ps in the future. Denmark In 1972 a g r o u p o f D a n i sh p h ys io th er a p is ts establ ish ed the eq u iv al en t o f a C. S.P. Specific In terest G r o u p . T h er e are o v e r 50 m e m b e rs wo rk in g full-time in i ndu str y as co n su l ta n t s a n d t r ai ni ng employees in the basic principles of e r g o n o m i c s . D a n i s h i n d u s t r i a l p h y s i o t h e r a p i s t s are em p lo y e d in e d u ca tin g t ea che rs a n d sc h o ol chi ld ren in e r g on o m ic s a n d kinetic handling. Th ey believe th a t a school leaver sh o u l d be fully versed in the essential principles of physical se lf-preservation from back injuries a n d spra ins o f muscles a n d ligaments. C o n s u m e r gu id an ce is given by ind ust ria l p h ys io th er a p is ts using p o r t a b l e displays a n d o t h e r m e t h o d s t o illustrate correct p o st u r e a n d lifting t ec hni que s in the h o m e, at wo rk a n d in rec re at io n al activities. Training T r a i n i n g cour ses are available at the Technical University o f D e n m a r k a n d the C o p e n h a g e n College o f Ph ys iot he rap y. At the lat ter s t u d e n t s requ est ed in 1975 t o hav e pa rt o f their hospi tal trai nee pe rio d c o n ve r t ed in to a fact ory trainee period. T h is has b eco m e a p e r m a n e n t a r ra n g e m e n t for the m aj o ri ty o f stu d e n ts. It consists o f a th eor eti cal i n tr o d u c t o r y week a n d a five-week tr ainee per iod at a factory selected by the teachers. A five-year period o f experience with the wor k- e n v ir o n m e n t has m ad e it evident th at this is the only viable conce pt t o create a real c h an g e in w o r k i n g cond iti ons . R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) 34 F is io te ra p ie , J u n ie 1983, d e e l 39, n r 2 C O N C L U S IO N In c on cl u si o n a q u o t a t i o n fr om B a r b a r a M c P h e e ’s addres s at the X X th I n t e r n a ti o n a l C on gr es s o n Oc cu p a tio n a l He alt h , Cair o, 1981. since the re c o m m e n d a ti o n s ho ld go od fo r ph ys io th er a p is ts in So u t h Africa: I f phy sio th e ra p ists in A u stralia are to p la y a p a rt in occupational health a n d ergonomics, a nd develop the relevant skills, they m ust f ir s t identify the areas in which their expertise can be used m o st appropriately. Secondly, they m u st ensure that both under and postg ra d u a te training is available in these tw o subjects, that it m e ets the n eed o f the ph ysio th era p ists in te re ste d in w orking in these areas, a n d th a t it is o f the highest p o ssib le standard. Thirdly, ph ysio th era p ists m u st p ro m o te their involvement, and de m o n stra te their effectiveness both to oth er health p rofessionals a n d industry generally. F o u r th ly , h ig h q u a l it y re s e a r c h in o c c u p a t io n a l ph y siotherapy is essential a n d urgent i f the fie l d is to have credibility a n d is to expand. Australian ph ysio th era p ists have a unique o p p o rtu n ity to contribute substantially to the body o f know ledge p resently available in occupational h ealth a n d ergonomics, a n d to keep the A ustralian w o rk -fo rc e healthy. W hether or not th ey do so w ill largely depend on them. References Bullock, M. (1974). Ge n er a l tr ea tm e n t a n d preventive role o f p h y si o t h e r a p y in ind ustry. Control, 1, 69-75. C ar les on, D. (1953). W h a t can a p hy si o t h er a p i st do in ind ustry ? P hysiother., 39, 301-302. Ca rdell, H. (1977). Pre sid en t, Swedish Physio th er apy E rg o n o m i c s G r o u p . The In dustrial P hysiotherapist, 2 , Nos. 2 & 3. D u r b r i d g e , J. (1978). C h a i r m a n a n d Re se arc h C o m m it te e , C h r i s t c h u r c h , N.Z. Priva te c o r r e sp on d e nc e. H e er in g , L. (1953). Basic principles o f p h y s io th er a py in industry. Physiother.. 39, 299-300. Ha yn e. C. R. (1976). The p h y si o th er a pi st in mod ern ind ustry . D i ss er ta tio n for C .S .P . Fellowship. Lipisto. M. (1980). Secretary' o f the Board o f t he Fi nnish As so c ia tio n o f Indus tr ial Physiot he rap ist s. The Industrial Physiotherapist. Sp ri ng ed. M cP he e, B. (1977). A u s tr a lia n G o v e r n m e n t R e p o r t on travelling fellowship. M cP he e, B. (1981). T h e d e v el op m en t o f O c c u p a t io n a l Ph y­ s io th er a py in A us tra lia . P a p e r delivered at X X t h I n t e r ­ na tio na l C on gr es s on O c c u p a t io n a l He al th . Cair o. Mc Phe e, B. (1982). E r g o n o m i c trai nin g for p h y s i o t h e r a ­ pists, N. S. W. Pr iv ate co rre sp on d e nc e. Ostli, A. (1953). H o w to a v oi d by m o d e r n m e t h o d s ok. p h y si o t h e r a p y the stra in a n d re du ced w o r k i n g capacity cau se d by m o v e m e n t a n o m a l ie s in the w o r k o f dentists. P hysiother., 39, 299-300. Sha ckel, B. Ed. (1974). Appl ied E r g o n o m i c s H a n d b o o k , ps. 2-9. Sha w, I. (1977). T h e role o f the p h ys io th era pi st in accident pre ven tion. Austr. J. Physiother., 23, 58. W ebs ter , 1. (1980). Practical impli cat ions for p h ys io th era py. A ustr. J. P hysiother., 26, 2. THE EMS THERASONIC a truly portable Ultrasonic Unit Weight: only 5,7 kg. Size: 30,5 x 17,8 x 19,0 cm. Output: Up to 3 watts per sq./cm. Continuous as well as pulsating output Now offered at R1 075,00 plus GST For further details contact the Sole S .A . Agents and Distributors M E D I C A L D I S T R I B U T O R S ZlsZ* Medical Distributors (Pty) Limited P O Box 3378 Johannesburg 2000 P O Box 195 - Cape Town 8000 P O Box 5298 Durban 4000 Phone : 29-0611 Phone : 47-4440 Phone : 37-1501 R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )