Physiotherapists themselves often fall victim to the hazards of their work. The professional activities of a physiotherapist involve the performance of various kinds of exercises and procedures in different positions, as well as moving patients and equipment (of various shapes, sizes and weights). Frequent repetition of these activities leads to the creation and maintenance of particular negative movement habits, while the persistence of these habits and further repetition of professional activities in an improper manner generally leads to the appearance of spinal overload disease. These abnormalities can result from failure to adapt the work station to individual needs and/or performing work-related activities (static and dynamic) in non-ergonomic positions. In accordance with the principles of the “back school”, a significant role in the prevention and mitigation of spinal overload disease is assigned to prevention – primary, secondary, and tertiary – which should be promoted among physiotherapists and persons practicing other health-related professions (e.g. physicians and nurses). In this article the authors identify situations that are bad for the spine and the errors most commonly committed by physiotherapists while performing various professional activities. They also pint out some possible ways to reduce overloading to a minimum and avoid the risk of incurring spinal pain syndromes in the future.