Physiotherapy Services | UKIM Occupational Health & Wellbeing

Did you know a quarter of adults are suffering from long-standing MSK problems?

At UKIM, we have developed a comprehensive physiotherapy service to help your employees recover from injuries or conditions, using evidence-based techniques to help alleviate pain and restore mobility.

How can MSK conditions affect someone’s work?

This will depend upon the nature of the injury and what the individuals’ work entails. It could be that the employee is absent from work as they are unable to perform the required tasks, or they may need to be on modified duties – tasks which can be performed without causing any further damage/allows recovery.

How Physiotherapy helps improve workplace physical health.

Any type of work can lead to, or exacerbate, an MSK condition. Office workers, drivers, and warehouse staff - all are likely to suffer from joint pain at some stage in their life that could easily be improved or remedied by our team of highly trained HCPC-registered physiotherapists.

We work closely with patients to create personalised treatment plans, using a combination of techniques such as exercise therapy, manual therapy, electrotherapy, and the use of assistive devices as required.

It helps by assessing and treating conditions.
Referring on for appropriate investigations/other professional intervention when indicated.
Understanding the job demands and ensuring the employee is returned to the correct level of fitness to be able to complete the tasks.
Advising management and employee on workplace adjustments for an individual returning to work.
Giving timescales for returning to work and to full fitness – an employee may be able to return to work even though they are not seen as fully fit.
Workplace/station assessments advising on adjustments/equipment/process improvements to prevent MSK conditions.
Advice and education on why MSK conditions may develop and how to prevent them.

Physical therapy treatment options.

In addition to Physiotherapy, our qualified assessors may suggest one of the following therapies as part of any treatment plan.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a manual therapy used to diagnose and treat conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. It is based on the principle that the body is a holistic system, and that imbalances or restrictions in one part can affect the function of other parts. Our Osteopaths use a range of techniques, including stretching, massage and manipulation, to promote healing and improve mobility for conditions such as;

Back pain, sciatica and whiplash
Arthritis
Headaches
Hand, shoulder and elbow pain
Foot, ankle, hip and knee pain
Postural problems

In the context of occupational health, osteopathy can help employees recover from musculoskeletal problems related to their work, such as repetitive strain injuries, and prevent the development of such problems in the future.

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractor therapy is a manual therapy that focuses on the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. It is based on the principle that misalignments in the spine can affect the nervous system and cause various health problems.

Chiropractors use manual adjustments to correct these misalignments, restoring proper function to the nervous system.

In the context of occupational health, chiropractor therapy can be helpful for employees who experience musculoskeletal pain - especially lower back or neck pain - or discomfort as a result of their work activities.

The therapy can help alleviate pain, improve mobility and flexibility, and enhance overall health and wellbeing.

Tailored Physiotherapy treatment plans for your business

Different workplace responsibilities lead to different MSK problems. Sedentary office staff are likely to be more affected by conditions like RSI, postural problems, or neck & back pain. Workers engaged in more physical activity will usually have specific muscle or joint-based issues, and be at more risk from accidental injury.

In all cases, working with our trained physiotherapists to develop a personalised treatment plan will address your employee's specific needs, and our goal-based approach will help their rehabilitation. Our clinicians also provide education on pain management and injury prevention, ensuring patients take an active role in their recovery.

What helpful measures can be taken in the workplace?

To help prevent/reduce work related MSK conditions, an assessment of the job content and ergonomic risks can identify areas of potential risk and therefore where the process can be improved to reduce the risk e.g., manual handling tasks, DSE etc
If there are already concerns with absence/reporting of MSK conditions, then reviewing the data may identify areas of increased risk, which can then be assessed, and improvements can be made.
Taking the time to identify possible risks and making appropriate changes will prevent injuries and therefore absence, claims etc.
Early reporting of any concerns with work processes, tools, parts etc. can lead to early intervention and preventing injuries.

What measures can be taken personally?

Report any discomfort early (within 24hrs is ideal) so that it can be assessed and treated before developing or becoming chronic. The earlier an injury is assessed and treated the quicker it will settle and if there is an issue with the work they are doing, this can be assessed and changed so the other employees are not exposed to the same risks and develop MSK conditions.
Follow the advice given.
Complete the exercises prescribed.

Our Physiotherapy services are available on a contractual or on-demand basis.

What our Physiotherapy and MSK services can do:

Improve flexibility, muscle strength and the quality of movement
Ascertain the severity of an injury with our pain assessment tool
Achieve exercise goals
Improve overall fitness
Prevent future injury recurrences
Develop a bespoke exercise programme
Return to fitness planning
Injury prevention advice
Look for muscle wasting and fasciculation. Test global limb strength (tip-toes, squats, raising from the chair, pushing up from the chair with arms etc.)
Prescribe exercises at home
Work in the gym to enhance recovery

Download our latest Service Overview leaflet

Your handy guide to the Occupational Health services we can supply and support your business with - click the image below for your PDF copy;

Are you an employee?

If you have any health conditions or concerns that you are worried may impact your performance at work, we would encourage you to discuss them with your employer in a transparent and open manner. They may be able to provide support or a referral to our Occupational Health services (like Physiotherapy or Counselling) to help you manage your health at work.

You can also get more information by reading through our Occupational Health Assessment FAQ for Employees ››

How can Musculoskeletal injuries be prevented, and what are the causes?

Prevention rather than cure is key here. As an employer, protecting the wellbeing, health & safety of your employees is paramount. With several risks associated across many sectors, some (not all) musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are being caused or made worse by work. MSDs include injuries and conditions that can affect the back, joints and limbs.

Causes of MSK Disorders:

Heavy lifting
Incorrect posture whilst bending, crouching or stooping
Pushing, pulling or dragging heavy loads
Reaching & twisting
Repetitive work
Excessive force
Performing a task for a long period of time
Driving heavy vehicles or long-distance driving
Poor temperature and lighting
Stress from work pressures and demands of a job

We can offer:

Assessment - Initial assessment, diagnosis and evidence-based management of all musculoskeletal conditions

Training & Advice - We'll guide and advise you to ensure your employees are health & safety trained in order for them to perform their job functions safely

Correct PPE - Reducing risk by ensuring the correct PPE is provided to reduce the risk of injury

Suitable work techniques - Are staff using equipment correctly?

Tools & resources - Are your tools fit for purpose?

Our Clinical Experts discuss the benefits of Physiotherapy in the workplace.

The UKIM team of professionals publish regular news and service columns about Physiotherapy and MSK Interventions, looking at how different treatment options can help with injuries and conditions employees may encounter while at work.

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Physiotherapy and
Musculoskeletal Services for Business

Helping employees recover from injury and musculoskeletal (MSK) problems

Did you know a quarter of adults are suffering from long-standing MSK problems?

How can MSK conditions affect someone’s work?

We support businesses across the UK with one of the largest and most established physiotherapy networks in the country;