INTRODUCTION: The restructuring of the production process in recent decades resulted in direct changes in the worker's health, changing the profile of illness and suffering of these individuals. Within this context, there is a significant increase in cases of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMD). OBJECTIVE: To know the profile of workers with RSI/WRMD and physical therapy to be undergone. METHODS: By applying a structured questionnaire, 80 employees were interviewed, users of the SUS (public health system of Brazil), included in the Physical Rehabilitation Program of the Reference Center for Occupational Health (Cerest - Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador), through the Department of Occupational Health (DSAT - Departamento de Saúde do Trabalhador), City Hall of Juiz de Fora, Department of Health (SS - Secretaria de Saúde). RESULTS:There is a predominance of cases of WRMD in females, and 83.8% of the cases personal income is only a minimum wage. Within the occupations found, 76 (95%) were related to manual labor, and the average time working on the same function was of 16 years. Seventy-eight (97.5%) of workers claimed impossibilities in carrying out activities of daily living (ADL). In the physical therapy, 30 (37.6%) reported that they had some kind of kinesiotherapy. CONCLUSION: The strictly pathophysiological vision based on the unidirectional and curative model, does not shown satisfactory and effective results. This fact implies no resolution in pain conditions, favoring extended periods of physical therapy, the overload of public system of health and impact on the emotional and socio-economic development of these workers.
Physical therapy; RSI-WRMD; Worker's health
