Lessons to Be Learned: A Retrospective Analysis of Physiotherapy Injury Claims

Gillian M. Johnson, Margot A. Skinner, Rachel E. Stephen

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2012.3877

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive analysis. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence and nature of insurance claims for injuries attributed to physiotherapy care. BACKGROUND: In New Zealand, a national insurance scheme, the Accident Compensation Corporation, provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury coverage. The patterns of injury sustained during physiotherapy care have not previously been described. METHODS: De-identified data for all injuries registered with the Accident Compensation Corporation from 2005 to 2010 and attributed to physiotherapy were accessed. Prevalence patterns (percentages) of new-claim data were determined for physiotherapy intervention category, injury site, nature of injury, age, and sex. A subcategory, exercise-related injuries, was analyzed according to injury site and whether the injury was related (primary) or unrelated (secondary) to the intended therapeutic goal. RESULTS: There were 279 claims related to physiotherapy care filed with the Accident Compensation Corporation during the studied reporting period. Injury was attributed predominantly to exercise (n = 88, 31.5% of cases) and manual therapy (n = 74, 26.5% of cases). The prevalence of events categorized as exercise related was greatest in those who were 55 to 59 years of age (n = 14, 16.3%) and greater in females (n = 47, 54.7%). Of the exercise-related injuries, 39.8% were in the lower-limb region and 35.2% were categorized as sprains/strains. CONCLUSION: Injuries attributed to exercise exceeded those linked to other therapies provided by physiotherapists, yet exercise therapy rarely features as a cause of adverse events reported to the physiotherapy profession. The proportion of exercise-related injury events underlines the need for ensuring safe and careful consideration of exercise prescription. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Harm, level 4.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(8):698-704, Epub 18 June 2012. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3877

KEY WORDS: adverse event, harms, healthcare administration, therapeutic exercise

The authors describe the prevalence and nature of insurance claims for injuries attributed to physiotherapy care.

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