IJOMAHIP Published Article Details

Abstract Background. Research on lower limb pain and its risk factors among physical therapists is limited. Physical Therapy interns may be particularly vulnerable due to the clinical training demands. This study determined whether internship workload contributes to lower limb pain among Physical Therapy Interns at Silliman University during Academic Year 2022–2023. Methods. A descriptive-correlational design was employed to examine the association between internship workload and lower limb pain among 53 Level IV Physical Therapy interns. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed online. The instrument underwent content validation using Lawshe’s method and reliability testing through Cronbach’s alpha. Google Forms data were subjected to statistical analysis. Results. Findings revealed a significant relationship between the level of lower limb pain and workload in local affiliation centers (p < .05). No significant association was found between lower limb pain and either physical demands or types of interventions performed. This suggests that increased patient load is associated with a higher risk of developing lower limb pain among interns, while the nature of interventions or physical intensity appears less influential which highlight the need for internship programs to consider patient assignment and workload management to prevent musculoskeletal strain. The findings indicate that increased patient load, rather than the type or physical intensity of interventions, is associated with lower limb pain among Physical Therapy interns. This suggests that cumulative workload and prolonged exposure may contribute more to musculoskeletal strain than specific clinical tasks. Internship programs should therefore consider balanced patient assignments and preventive strategies to reduce the risk of pain and support interns’ occupational health. Conclusion. Higher patient load is significantly associated with increased lower limb pain among Physical Therapy interns, whereas physical demands and types of interventions are not. These findings emphasize the importance of workload management during clinical training and highlight the need to explore other contributing factors to lower limb pain in healthcare trainees. Keywords: Lower limb pain, physical therapy interns, internship workload, musculoskeletal risk, descriptive–correlational study, Philippines