Physical Therapists' Expectations Regarding the Recovery of Work-Disabled Individuals Aged 55 and Over

The aim of this study was to document physical therapy professionals' expectations regarding the recovery of work-disabled individuals aged 55 and over with a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD).

Using a qualitative descriptive method, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of physical therapy professionals. The Think Aloud method was used with two fictional vignettes describing work-disabled women (a 57-year-old and a 37-year-old) to explore the participants' recovery expectations. The two vignettes were compared to highlight recovery expectations related specifically to ageing workers.

Twelve physical therapy professionals participated. Most reported more unfavourable expectations regarding the recovery of the worker aged 55 and over. Physical therapists indicated that higher anxiety-related symptoms, lower level of engagement, and the effect of ageing on general health lowered their recovery expectations. Also, perceptions of patient psychosocial risk factors were viewed as an important negative influence on recovery expectations. Early-career participants were more likely to perceive the older worker's characteristics as negatively influencing their recovery expectations compared with those of the younger worker.

Results indicate that physical therapists tend to report lower recovery expectations for these older workers. This study offers deeper insight into how patient age may influence clinicians' recovery expectations.