The importance of interdisciplinary work between physiotherapists and physical education professionals in bodybuilding gyms: an integrative literature review

Abstract

Nobody can deny the benefits that well-structured exercise practices can provide to people. However, one of the disadvantages of these practices is the risk of injuries. This work aimed to describe the importance of physiotherapists’ performance in weight training gyms working together with physical education professionals. An integrative literature review has been performed using the databases: SciELO, LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar, in addition to articles and books. The chosen inclusion criteria were articles published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish between 2009 and 2023, while no range was established for books. Data indicate that failure to diagnose changes during the client’s evaluation can lead to incorrect exercise prescriptions and future problems. The literature indicates that the most injured body parts are the shoulder, knee, and lumbar spine. Low back pain and tendonitis were the pathologies with the highest incidence. The lack of physiotherapists in gyms could be associated with the costs. It has been well documented that the physiotherapist has the necessary knowledge to prevent musculoskeletal injuries or postural changes and prevent the recurrence of existing problems from worsening. Therefore, the multidisciplinary work between the physiotherapist and the physical educator is necessary to promote the well-being of individuals who attend the gym.