One in two employees were affected by musculoskeletal (MSK) pain during the pandemic, with one in six (16%) extremely affected, according to recent research.
Now that more employees are returning to the office, calls to physiotherapy support lines are soaring. As employees who haven’t been active in a long time, realise they can no longer walk to the station, without their back hurting. Or cycle to work, without injuring their knee.
Others are finding that weight gain, caused by closer proximity to snacks and sitting for longer periods while working from home, has contributed to new MSK problems. Causing them to experience new pain, niggles and even injuries when using the stairs, for example.
Fortunately, there are three ways employers can help people recover. Ranging from getting people more active again to work hardening.
Three ways to rehabilitate employees affected by MSK issues
1. Gradually increase physical activity
The importance of physical activity and exercise for reconditioning joints and muscles is not to be underestimated. Numerous studies highlight the benefits. However, problems occur when people literally attempt to run before they can walk. Going from months spent shielding inside their house, to attempting to go on a three-mile run for the first time in two years. Or attempting to go on a long cycle to work because that’s what they used to do.
Instead, people need to be reminded that they might have lost physical conditioning if they have become less active or gained weight during the past few years. Then encouraged to gradually rebuild strength. Going for short walks or doing a controlled exercise programme, aligned to clear goals, at the right pace, with their local gym or as part of a group.
Couch to 5K is a free NHS app, with links to park runs, which employers can encourage employees to take part in. Or PAM’s Employee Wellbeing App, features a wide range of exercise videos, for every stage of fitness. Together with goal setting and habit tracking tools to encourage positive behaviour change. While walking football is a great activity for older employees to regain fitness without strain and swimming is a non-impact activity that trains the whole body.
2. Build physical activity into the day
Employees also need to be helped to stay active at work. Especially if they have young children and might struggle to exercise outside of work. So encourage everyone to engage in physical activity wherever possible. Not least by taking regular fresh-air breaks.
Employees who might be keen to do this could feel reluctant to take a short walk if it’s not their lunch break. Choosing to scroll on their phone or browse the internet in-between tasks.
Not only is this bad for their physical and mental health, but it can also make them less productive. Because, if they’ve been working cogitatively hard, they need to use their brain in a different way to refresh themselves.
Taking a movement break, preferably in the fresh air, be this a brisk walk, skipping, a game of boules or just doing some star jumps, will rest their brain. Enhancing their creativity and helping them to think of solutions to problems to make them more productive and less susceptible to MSK issues. So, give employees ‘permission’ to build movement into their day, by getting managers to lead by example and creating a culture where productivity and creativity are valued over sitting at a desk all day.
3. Consider work hardening
Gradually rebuilding activity levels will be enough to help most people regain muscle and joint strength and conditioning. However, if individuals are still injuring themselves while attempting to commute or move around at work, you might want to consider work hardening.
Work hardening focuses on rebuilding their strength, endurance and resilience, so they can achieve their work goals. Be this a return to commuting or certain activities. Work hardening features a series of physical conditioning sessions, based on a biopsychosocial model. This looks at the employees’ motivations and addresses any fears linked to physical activity, typically due to a past injury, now exacerbating the problem.
By giving individuals the insights needed to understand how their body reacts, you can help to quickly rehabilitate them, before the problem gets any worse. As well as give them the individual tools and approaches needed to be able to independently manage their own long-term conditions, improve their quality of life and prevent any MSK disease progression. All of which will help to engage them and reduce the risk of further absence.
How to Rehabilitate Deconditioned Employees
How can PAM Physio Solutions Help?
Workplace physiotherapy strategies
Physiotherapy webinars
Work hardening
Physiotherapy information line (PhIL)
PAM Employee Wellbeing App
For more information about how we can support your people to stay in work and reduce recovery time:
Email: pamphysiosolutions@people-am.com
Call: 01925 989741
