Work-related musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and dietary habits in athletic trainers and physical therapists providing sports team support

BackgroundAthletic professionals (athletic trainers and physical therapists) perform injury prevention, health management, evaluation, emergency care, post-injury protection, rehabilitation, and administrative duties. Their focus on athletes' health may lead them to overlook high physical and psychosocial demands that may increase musculoskeletal pain (MSP), fatigue, and unhealthy dietary habits.ObjectiveTo examine MSP, fatigue, and dietary habits among athletic professionals who provide on-site team support and explore how fatigue and dietary habits relate to MSP.MethodsParticipants were required to be athletic professionals providing on-site team support. This cross-sectional online survey assessed 3-month work-related MSP in body regions, fatigue using a modified Fatigue Assessment Scale, and dietary habits using a structured food-frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression and mediation analyses examined associations and indirect associations, adjusting for relevant confounders.ResultsA total of 132 valid responses were included. MSP was highly prevalent, particularly in the lower back (83%), wrists/fingers (80%), and neck (67%). Fatigue (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.34-7.45) and several suboptimal dietary habits (e.g., irregular meal timing, inadequate intake, fast eating, unbalanced diet, replacing meals with snacks, emotional eating) were significantly associated with MSP. Exploratory mediation analyses indicated statistically significant indirect associations via inadequate intake, replacing meals with snacks, and emotional eating, suggesting these behaviours may partially account for the fatigue-MSP association.ConclusionsAthletic professionals experience a high burden of MSP, fatigue, and suboptimal dietary habits that may be interrelated in ways that exacerbate work-related health. Workplace strategies should address workload, fatigue management, and access to healthy eating options to support sustainable practice and well-being.