Abstract

Introduction. A large percentage of musculoskeletal disorders among adolescents can be attributed to the lack of physical activity. Properly directed prevention as well as assuring the right conditions for development constitutes a valid part in the research on the subject.

Objective. To assess the opinion of students, lecturers, parents and physiotherapists on the need of cooperation with a physiotherapist in the school environment.

Design. The research was conducted at the primary and secondary schools in Warsaw in 2018. 1053 participants were selected to take the survey. The distribution among the group was as follows: lecturers (N = 178), students (N = 548), parents (N = 97) and physiotherapists (N = 230). A survey “Physiotherapist at every school” by E. Trylińska-Tekielska and L. Nowińska was used.

Results. There was a shared agreement among the participants on the need of having access to a physiotherapist at every school with choices respectively: lecturers (94%), parents (89%), students (82%) in favor. Teachers were overwhelmingly open (93%) to the possibility of working together with a physiotherapist. Most of the students (91%) pointed to experiencing fatigue at school with majority (67%) agreeing that having an access to physiotherapist would positively affect their physical well-being.

Conclusions.

1. A presence of a medical professional in the form of physiotherapist is important to and expected by the study group.

2. Teachers were willing to work with a physiotherapist and agreeing on its positive influence on students’ physical condition.

3. Majority of the students agree that physiotherapist will positively influence their physical condition.

Key words:

physiotherapist, student, school, prevention