Work injuries

Work Injuries

Work is a very important part of our lives and an essential aspect of Australia’s economy and growth. Unfortunately, thousands of Australians suffer from work-related injury each year. Some of these injuries are shown below:

Overuse Injury: Overuse injury frequently occurs when a worker continually overloads his/her body during activities such as repeated lifting, gripping and typing. It often develops in the upper limbs and involve damage to soft tissue such as a muscle or tendon.

Back and Neck Pain: Back and neck issues are commonly seen here in the clinic. These can develop overtime due to poor posture, poor work set-up or inadequate muscle control. They can also occur with continual/prolonged bending or sitting or lifting.

Sprains and Strains: Ligament sprains or muscle strains occur when a worker overloads a joint/soft tissue, twists or overstretches.

It is important to follow the ‘RICE’ principle following an acute injury. ‘RICE’ stands for:

Rest - Avoid further damage to the area by stopping the activity that caused it.

Ice - Apply an ice pack to the area for 20 minutes every 2 hours for 2 - 4 days following injury. This will help to relieve pain and more importantly stop bleeding and reduce inflammation in the area.

Compression - Apply a compression bandage to the area if possible to minimize swelling.

Elevation - If you can, raise the area up above the level of your heart (E.g. Lie down on the ground and put your foot up on a chair to elevate your leg if you have an ankle or knee injury). This will help to reduce swelling in the area.

Here at ThinkPhysio, our physiotherapists understand that work not only provides us with financial security, but also a sense of purpose and fulfilment. Therefore, we are committed to returning you back to work as quickly and practically as able (this may initially involve returning you back to work on modified duties/hours). We do this through utilisation of different treatment strategies (E.g. Exercises, Hydrotherapy, Manual therapy, Therapeutic modalities/aids) and communicating with your employers, doctors, insurance companies and other parties to ensure we are on the same page in terms of your recovery.

For more information on the conditions we treat and services we offer, or to book an appointment please call (03)9790 4266 or email: [email protected]