Osteopathy and the work environment Occupational injuries account for a large proportion of the 350 million working days a year lost in Britain (1993), and not just in heavy industry. New technology, whether it be automated production lines or computer work stations, can also take its toll on the musculo-skeletal system. Many people experience pain and discomfort as a result which can affect their well-being and their work.

Work Related Musculo-skeletal ill-health

Significant groups of illnesses due to work are disorders of the muscles, tendons and joints, particularly in the back, hands and arms. Symptoms vary from mild aches and pains to severe pain and disability. Back pain alone accounts for an estimated loss of 11 million working days. An estimated 5% of the workforce between 16 and 64 years of age looses work time because of back pain during the course of a month. The government and the Health and Safety Executive are actively pursuing ways of reducing the incidence of the problem that afflicts the work force.

The Osteopathic Approach

Osteopaths are skilled at discovering the underlying causes of pain, using their hands both the gain information and to treat injuries. Treatment techniques may include soft tissue stretching, rhythmic passive joint movements or high velocity thrust to improve the range of movements of a joint. Well known for the effective treatment of back and neck pain, any osteopath will also treat a wide variety of other conditions that may be related to the workplace including tension headaches and migraine, and they can give also remedial advice and preventative exercises. A wide range of recent studies have shown that osteopathic treatment can be instrumental in rapidly alleviating the gainful symptoms associated with back and joint pain whatever it cause or origin. The relief from pain helps materially in the general improvement of well being of those previously suffering. Osteopathic treatment is an effective means of returning people to full activity at an early opportunity following injury from any cause.

Osteopathy in the Work Place

Many larger companies retain osteopaths as part of their permanent company health team and have derived considerable benefit from this. Smaller companies can also benefit from liaison with a local osteopath who can advise the management team on correct posture and movement and give staff instruction on back care and preventative exercises. An osteopath involved with staff care programmes of this type can lead to a fitter, more productive workforce, improve morale, increased productivity and can lead to less time off through musculo-skeletal ill-health. By helping to improve the physical and mental well-being of your employees, episodes of musculo-skeletal pain will be significantly reduced and there will be less need for employees to have time away from work. Such involvement can actually save the business money and improvements in productivity of up to 25% have been achieved in many cases.

Prevention is better than cure

Knowing how to minimise the likely development of musculo-skeletal problems by modifying the work place and how we interact with it will provide the power to minimise and work toward eliminating the problem. Modifying the work place can have significant effects on the development of problems. Adapting the way in which people work and the way they approach work are also important aspects which can help limit the problems. Improvements in morale can result in improvements in both of these aspects. Top of page

Cost Effectiveness

The HSE estimates that only 20% of the costs of work place injury are visible costs in terms of the costs of treatment. The cost in terms of lost production, extra overtime payments, poor staff morale and low productivity multiply the overall losses many. The total cost have been estimated at over £5 billion - and that's only back pain. Osteopathic treatment is effective, the symptoms of pain are usually resolved quickly - most people report improvement in only a few sessions Osteopathic treatment is cost effective - Four sessions with our osteopath will cost say £150 - compare this to the loss in wages for two weeks of say £600 and in terms of lost production and extra labour costs of several times that amount. Getting people back to work quickly saves money.

How we can Help

We can provide osteopathic treatment for your employees so as they can return to work quickly.

Give advice as to how the risks can be minimised in your work place so they can avoid time off work.

Give a presentation at your work place on prevention of problems to encourage personal participation in prevention.

Ring the clinic to discuss how any of these possibilities can be implemented and start saving money with a cost effective treatment and a preventative care plan.