Background: In 2023, firefighters in Seoul responded to over two million emergency calls, exposing them to substantial physical and psychological strain. This working environment increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and occupational stress. To address these issues, the Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters (SMFDH) piloted a manual therapy program provided at fire stations. To our knowledge, this manuscript is the first report describing the feasibility of such an intervention in fire stations.
Methods: From 11 June to 6 December 2024, one Korean Medicine (KM) doctor rotated through five fire stations, providing free one-on-one treatment sessions during duty hours. This retrospective report analyzed detailed clinical records regarding manual therapies. Baseline characteristics, diagnoses according to ICD-10, and visit frequency were compared between firefighters with ≤ 10 years and > 10 years of service. A web-based survey (12–18 November 2024) assessed self-reported pain reduction and satisfaction.
Results: A total of 376 firefighters received 808 sessions; 66.8% had a history of herniated disc or rotator cuff syndrome. Manual therapies—primarily myofascial release, joint mobilization, and muscle energy techniques—were applied in 94.8% of visits. No serious adverse events were reported. Among 148 survey respondents (39.4%), self-reported NRS pain scores were lower after the program in most cases (82.4%). Firefighters with longer tenure reported a lower proportion of pain improvement but higher satisfaction scores than those with shorter tenure. Most respondents (97.3%) recommended the service, with on-site accessibility as the key advantage.
Conclusions: Station-based manual therapy appeared feasible and well accepted, with participants reporting pain reduction and high satisfaction. Their working tenure influenced utilization and perceived benefit. In 2025, SMFDH extended the program to a nine-month schedule across fifteen stations. Controlled studies with objective functional outcomes and long-term follow-up are warranted to confirm its occupational health benefits.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12998-026-00640-4.
Keywords: Firefighters; Manual therapy; Musculoskeletal pain; Occupational health; On-site clinic.
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