Physiotherapy in the Workplace: Learn how a physiotherapist can improve your nine-to-five
If your job requires you to work in front of a computer daily on an 8-hour shift, then chances are most of your days are spent sitting for consecutive hours straight. While it seems as though your office job does not expose you to injury risks as other occupations that require more demanding and physical tasks, it does not mean that certain conditions cannot develop in your body. In fact, with office jobs, strain injuries as a result of repetitive work as well as prolonged sitting have been on the rise for many corporate employees. A physiotherapist is the best person that can help you improve any workplace-related ailment that you or someone you know may be experiencing.
What is a physiotherapist?
A physiotherapist, also known as physical therapist, is a medical professional who specialises in dealing with conditions, disorder, or injuries affecting the physical function or movement of an individual.
Physiotherapists are highly knowledgeable and are properly trained in using various methods to help in the rehabilitation of patients following an illness or surgery. Techniques including patient education, exercises, and manual therapy are used by physiotherapists for treatment of injuries, pain management, and rehabilitation. A physiotherapist’s ultimate goal is to improve a patient’s quality of life by improving their mobility and leading them to be able to function independently.
What are the challenges in the workplace that can affect your body and productivity?
These workplace challenges can place your body at risk of developing certain conditions that can negatively affect your overall health and the way you work:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Strain injuries
- Stress and mental health
Sedentary lifestyle: Prolonged sitting can cause poor body posture and other issues that affect the body’s musculoskeletal system. Common conditions that result from this type of lifestyle include stiffness in the neck, back pain, and other body discomforts.
Strain injuries: Manual labour or typing that is done repetitively during working hours can lead to muscle and joint strains. Many office workers are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis as a result of repetitive tasks.
Stress and mental health: Being exposed to constant stress in the workplace and having improper management of it can cause conditions and ailments in the body, which can have a poor impact on your overall health as well as your performance in the workplace.
How can a physiotherapist help in improving your health in the workplace?
Incorporating physiotherapy in the workplace is a great step in promoting workforce health and well-being. By having access to a physiotherapist in the workplace, both employers and employees can gain support and access to various services that can help in dealing with health challenges acquired due to an unhealthy work setting. A physiotherapist can guide you in understanding the different challenges in the workplace that may increase your body’s risks of being exposed to injuries or developing certain conditions. They can educate you on:
- Managing stress
- Practising good posture and ergonomics
- Preventing injury
Managing stress: Reducing stress is one of the methods that can greatly improve your mental health and be more productive in the workplace. A physiotherapist can suggest different approaches on how you can reduce stress and have better focus, which can positively influence your overall mental health and work performance. Some of the methods recommended by physiotherapists to manage stress in the workplace include mindfulness practices, relaxation exercises, and stretching.
Practising good posture and ergonomics: A physiotherapist can suggest ergonomic changes to how you perform tasks by evaluating your workstations. They can also teach you about proper postures when working at your desk, which can minimise your risk of developing musculoskeletal conditions. For example, they can provide recommendations about how to properly set-up your workstation by ensuring that your desk, chair, and monitor are placed at the right level to maintain a neutral posture. Likewise, they can recommend ergonomic furniture and equipment that can help reduce muscle strains and prevent injuries to the body.
Preventing injury: A physiotherapist can create exercise programs specifically customised to your needs in order to improve your body’s flexibility and make your muscle stronger. By developing a habit of doing these exercises, you are protecting your body from developing injuries.
How can physiotherapy improve the workplace?
If you are an employer or someone who is concerned about your workplace environment’s safety and productivity, involving physiotherapy in your organisation’s day-to-day operations can benefit your company in a lot of ways and boost the morale of your workforce. Here are some tips on how physiotherapy can be implemented in the workplace:
1 Provide on-site physiotherapy services
Giving employees access to on-site physiotherapy services allows them to get consultations and needed treatments immediately without having to leave the workplace. Physiotherapists can also provide evaluations individually for the employees and educate them on the possible risk factors that may lead to conditions that can negatively impact their health and productivity. Additionally, physiotherapists can also plan wellness programs that can be implemented in the company.
2 Promoting physical activity
Recommending the insertion of physical activity during work hours can break the cycle of a sedentary lifestyle. Physiotherapists can evaluate the rhythms in the workplace and suggest activities such as working meetings or the use of ergonomic furniture and equipment like a standing desk to help increase movement and break health-risk habits like prolonged sitting.
3 Trainings and workshops
Physiotherapists can conduct regular training and workshops on proper posture, exercises, stretching, and ergonomics to spread awareness to employees about how to keep their bodies healthy as they do their daily work.
Conclusion
Our body is exposed to possible injuries or conditions even in the workplace. While being seated at your desk may seem to be harmless, it does not exempt your body from developing conditions that can affect your entire health and productivity at work. By incorporating physiotherapy in the workplace, employers can help and support their employees in a healthy work environment. Having a healthy workforce benefits both employer and employees by minimising work-related ailments or conditions, reducing absenteeism, and increasing job satisfaction, which greatly contributes to the success of an organisation.
Physioactive
Camden Medical Centre
6235 2647
