Getting back to work after an injury can be a difficult process. It can be intimidating and is often not helped by the uncertainty of the early injury rehabilitation process. The concepts can be simplified, and empowered workers who understand the goals are always better off than those who feel like a leaf being blow around by the wind!
Person's Capacity > Life's Demands
The process of return to work is very simple from a medical point of view; Your Capacity to do work needs to be greater than your work demands!
The physio working with you has a direct part in helping you to increase your capacity. We do this by building strength and reducing impairments. Seem simple right!
Where things get complex is when we try to estimate your work demands. Your physio does an amazing job of being a physio, but they can’t always know the specifics of your job and the daily work flow. Factors that increase the demands of a job will include simple things like:
- Load
- Repetition
- Duration
More complex factors include:
- Postural Awkwardness (access, reach, shape and size, grip points)
- Unexpected events
- Environmental factors
- Vibration
- Systems of Work
Awkwardness is hard to define, and hard to plan for. We all know it is harder to grab something at reach compared to right in front of you. Its even harder when the item is at reach and under the desk, behind your bin!
Unexpected events like the item falling or a bug crawling up your arm also increase the difficulty of a task. It even harder if it is hot (or cold), it is shaking (vibration), and you can’t get a break or some help (systems of work).
A return to work plan needs to get you strong enough to perform the task and handle the other complex factors that make it harder! You should always look for a plan to reduce pain and then look for an option for exercise while you return to work. You may be surprised by the things that set you back, but if you have a good program, you will succeed!
If you would like to learn more about how we can help with a return to work plan after injury, the physiotherapists at Back In Motion Como would love to help!
Website: https://www.backinmotion.com.au/como
Phone Number: 9313 3414