Benefits of workplace physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is offered by trained as well as regulated practitioners known as physiotherapists. They normally do their work as part of a multi-disciplinary crew in various places of work such as hospitals, sports teams among others. There are physiotherapists whose work is to improve the safety and health of employees for them to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. These physiotherapists are known as occupational health (OH) physiotherapists.

OH, physiotherapists usually work in different settings like the service industries, manufacturing, retail, offices, ergonomics consultancies, healthcare, public as well as private sectors. Their main role is to proactively promote health and safety in the workplace. They create an improved workforce and there are benefits that come with it. This includes

• Preventative strategies; protect healthy individuals from having injuries at the workplace.
• Rehabilitative services; limits long-term disability and prevents re-injury through early involvement as well as the provision of appropriate return to work responsibilities.

Workplace physiotherapy improves the wellbeing, comfort and the performance of the employees. As a result, sickness and accidents absence reduces, thus improving the productivity and performance of the company.

There are major benefits for employers and employees that come with OH physiotherapists in the place of work. They tackle problems or possible issues before in order to reduce the likelihood of them becoming long-term. This improves the safety and the wellbeing of the employees. Therefore, employees will remain in work and this will result in saving the costs that may incur in the companies.

Being in employment

Being in employment results in significant improvement of an individual's health and it increases the self-worth. Work can as well help someone to recover from illness and reduce the possibility of long term incapability. The positive wellbeing effects of work suggest that, if their situation allows, individuals with chronic health problems or disabilities ought to be supported to go back to, or stay in, work.

Sickness absence costs

The cost that comes with sickness absence in companies, as well as the economy, is well known. The report shows that sickness absence cost the UK businesses and it is economy about £15 billion yearly, a big loss in economic output. Long-term absence was about 5% of sickness absence, although accounted for approximately half of the full number of working days lost. As a result, the company will minimize losses in output by maintaining their employees at work. Employee's compensation claims, as well as premium costs, will also be minimized.

On-site workplace assessments

Physiotherapists assist with efficient injury management and they develop a particular return to work procedures. They conduct an on-site workplace evaluation, so understand the demands of the wounded employee's job as well as the work environment. There will be improved control on return to work measures.

Other benefits include;

• Open communication between all the key stakeholders.
• Increased management over the costs related to the place of work injuries.
• Increased worker's morale.