Physiotherapy Competence in Product Development: Work Approaches and Experiences from a Business Project

Abstract

Background: Product development is an arena where few physiotherapists work. The questions we asked were: How can physiotherapists help with product development in a company? What experiences have physiotherapists after completing a product development project? Main part: This article, based on specific work assignments with the development of a carrier for children, is an example of how physiotherapists, in collaboration with other professions, can work with product development. The tasks for the physiotherapists were product development, completion of a study for users and ergonomic analysis. The study was conducted through focus group interviews, keeping a log book and individual interviews. Conclusion: This project showed that physiotherapists had important expertise in the process of developing products. Especially the expertise in muscular-skeletal disorders, ergonomics, motor development and project work were useful. Prerequisites for a product development project’s success is the involvement of management, flexibility in work tasks for the physiotherapists, user involvement and close cooperation with other involved professional groups