Physiotherapy

Occupational Physiotherapy

Musculoskeletal problems are the most common cause of absence from work. Most of the absence is a due to back and neck pain as a result of an injury, usually from lifting and carrying . It doesn’t really matter what type of work it is. Musculoskeletal injuries can affect all sectors from manual workers in construction to office based workers in banking and unfortunately these injuries can come at a considerable cost to employers.

Occupational physiotherapy support for injuries workers

As a result more organisations are looking to manage their musculoskeletal problems with physiotherapy. The high number of injuries and the costs of absence makes it imperative for organisations to look at an effective way to reduce their costs.

Making Occupational Physiotherapy cost-effective!

The cost of providing Occupational Physiotherapy needs to be considered against the cost of absence and musculoskeletal disorders to the organisation. The evidence shows that the greatest benefit are for those organisations with

• higher costs per day of sickness absence so there are greater savings from occupational physiotherapy
• where a greater proportion of absence is due to musculoskeletal problems
• where the existing sickness absence programme involves physiotherapy including new employment screening, ergonomic intervention and rehabilitation programmes.

How does Occupational Physiotherapy achieve this savings?

Occupational Physiotherapy can help by

• minimising absence by treating the injury and returning to workearlier.
• earlier treatment – waiting more than 3 weeks for treatment results in a slower recovery and a greater likelihood of absence,
• reducing the waiting period for treatment increases the chance of them returning to work
• providing adjustments in the work place
• eliminating travel time away from work