WHAT DO PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST SITTING SPINAL POSTURE? - GOLDEN ODIE

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Physiotherapist managing low back pain (LBP) patients often give advice on sitting posture. Interestingly, there is no established consensus on what the best sitting spinal posture entails. In this study the perceptions of 296 physiotherapists from 4 European countries were examined in relation to:

1. What they considered the best sitting spinal posture
2. Whether these perceptions varied between European countries
3. What characteristics constituted "best sitting posture"
4. Whether therapist' LBP beliefs were related to their perceptions on the best sitting posture

METHODS

Prior to the commencement of LBP workshops in 4 European countries, 296 physiotherapists (Ireland n=111, England n=88, Germany n=41, Netherlands n=56) were asked to:

1. Record levels of work experience, qualifications and work location.
2. Select the best sitting posture out of 9 samples and qualify their reasoning.
3. Complete a Back Beliefs Questionnaire (BBQ). The Netherlands exluded.
4. Rate the importance of sitting spinal posture in the management of NSLBP on a 0—10 scale.

Chi—squared analysis examined frequency of selection, significant differences in specific posture selection and whether selection varied between countries. Man—Whitnall tests were used to examine differences in characteristics of therapists picking the most common postures. The qualitative comments were collated into themes.

RESULTS

Therapist Characteristics: One therapist in Ireland stated there was no 1 preffered posture. Of the remaining 295 therapists 85% worked in musculoskeletal, 89% in clinical practice, 59% held BSc and 39% held MSc qualifications. No difference in these factors between

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