Work related injuries
Whether you work at a desk, or lift heavy objects, It’s likely that at some point in your life you will struggle with pain or injury related to the prolonged, repetitive nature of sustained working posture or action.
The lack of variability when we work leads to tissues deconditioning or becoming overworked and ultimately breaking down and straining.
These types of injuries are extremely common and particularly tend to affect the lower back, neck, shoulders, elbows and wrists. If left untreated these problems can develop into chronic pain sources and obviously impact your work quality and job satisfaction.
What causes strains or injuries at work?
Sitting:
Sitting is the silent killer. Not only is it bad for your overall health it’s bad for your lumbar spine, hips, neck and shoulders. Prolonged, static compression occurs in the spine causing abnormal blood flow and irritation to the discs and spinal joints. You’ll also notice that posture begins to decline in desk based jobs as the shoulders roll in and the neck pushes forward. This represents a loss of awareness of the brain as to how it should be orienting and controlling your body and signals the need for action.
Repetition:
Doing the same action repeatedly can lead to an inflammatory reaction in the muscles and tendons. This is because the area doesnt have time to repair and heal itself and becomes overworked. This type of injury is most common around the elbow (tennis elbow), shoulder (rotator cuff) or wrist and fingers.
Stress:
Stress and tension in the workplace is very common. When trying to meet deadlines or dealing with colleagues the body releases cortisol, adrenaline and other stress hormones as to become highly sensitive to our environment. We hold our body stiffer and have more muscular activation as we are essentially in ‘fight or flight’ mode. Over time this leads to fatigue, irritability and sensitivity to pain not to mention rigid joints and tight/stiff muscles. Stress can manifest as headache, neck and shoulder pain and other problems such as shallow breathing and autonomic issues (such as blood pressure increase).
Other common issues we see
- Back pain associated with accidents or injuries at work
- Back pain caused by a lack of physical activity
- Back pain from sitting too long at a desk
- Back pain from slipping and falling at work.
- Repetitive strain injury
- Headaches and stress-related migrains
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow pain
- Wrist pain
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Aching feet from standing for long shifts.
Treatment options
- Soft tissue therapy to treat muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.
- Spinal and extremity joint adjusting/manipulation to improve spinal mechanics and postural control Kinesio tape to improve postural awareness.
- Dry needling for stubborn injuries such as tennis and golfers elbow.
- Evidence based exercise prescription and rehabilitation.
- Instrument assisted techniques, cupping and electrical stimulation.
How can we treat work related injuries?
Treatment is aimed at recognising and imacting the main contributing factors to the injury. We figure out the pain generating structures, help get you out of pain and make you fit to ensure it doesnt return.
- Soft tissue therapy to treat muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.
- Spinal and extremity joint adjusting/manipulation to improve spinal mechanics and postural control Kinesio tape to improve postural awareness.
- Dry needling for stubborn injuries such as tennis and golfers elbow.
- Evidence based exercise prescription and rehabilitation.
- Instrument assisted techniques, cupping and electrical stimulation.
At Beyond Better Health, we have years of experience working in the corporate health sector. We have treated patients from all ranges of jobs and seen all types of injuries.
We analyse the task you do, assess the painful area, perform a movement screen and conduct orthopaedic tests to make sure you receive an accurate diagnosis and clear management plan. If you are safe to continue in your role we will tell you or we’ll offer alternative tasks whilst your problem heals.
We offer proper desk ergonomic set up and office chair advice, optimal movement and lifting techniques, education about lifestyle changes to offset your role and stress management help.
*We treat WorkSafe and TAC patients at this practice and communicate with your workplace advisor. It is recommended that you be approved for chiropractic care before commencing consultations. All payments are made in full by the patient on the day of the appointment and are to be reimbursed at patients own convenience.
FaqS
Yes. Chiropractic care is extremely safe for work-related injuries. There are virtually no side effects with chiropractic treatment and it has been shown to improve the quality of life, not only for people currently in the workforce but also for individuals who are retired.
The length of the treatment depends on several factors including severity, age of injury and your body’s response to treatment. We will be able to give you a better estimate once we get an opportunity to conduct an examination for your situation.
We can provide a comprehensive set of ergonomic recommendations that cover both workstation set-up and equipment selection. We will ensure that the equipment you’re using is safe for your needs and then give you a specific plan to help prevent future problems at work.
WE WANT TO KEEP YOU ON TOP OF YOUR GAME.
Our consultations are tailored to you.
Our appointments are based on your individual needs. We address your specific problems and our treatment plan is aligned with your goals and preferences. We utilise longer appointments to truly understand and treat your condition.
We're experienced.
With over 10 years of clinical experience, we’ve seen people from all walks of life with all types of conditions. If you have a spine, musculo-skeletal or nervous system problem you should talk to us. We want to fix your problem so that you are pain free.
We care.
At this clinic you will be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. We follow up and communicate with your General Practitioner, allied health providers and coaches. We are determined to help get you well and keep you well.
