By Mark Fletcher, Clinical Director of Physio Med, discusses the benefits physiotherapy can bring to both employee and employer.
Sickness absence has long been a problem for businesses, with more than 130 million days being lost due to sickness annually in the UK1. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average number of days off sick, per employee, amounted to 4.4 days in 2014.
Musculoskeletal conditions are an increasing concern, as modern-day working practices and pressures – such as spending hours on end sitting at a desk – are putting increased stress on the spine and contributing to a rise in back and neck problems. It is estimated that musculoskeletal conditions are responsible for 31 million lost working days across the UK every year and, with up to 80 per cent of adults likely to be affected by an MSD in their lifetime and 40 per cent taking time off work at some point in their life due to MSDs2, this is a problem that needs to be dealt with as effectively as possible.
Recent research among NHS trusts also showed that the length of absence due to MSDs is almost four days longer than the average length of time taken off for other illnesses and injuries. This longstanding sickness absence issue is costing employers financially and affecting productivity. Not only is the employee in considerable amounts of pain, but often employees are absent from work or operating at reduced levels of productivity, which clearly has an impact on both the employer and the employee.
In addition, these conditions can adversely affect the quality of life experienced by employees both in and out of the workplace. Employers should, therefore, be looking to safeguard the wellbeing of their employees in order to prevent longstanding illness and absence.
On a more day-to-day basis, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can be exacerbated by employees not being aware of correct posture and lifting positions, which could be solved by employers providing thorough education.
With this in mind, it is important that employees and employers alike keep the lines of communication open when it comes to dealing with musculoskeletal concerns by putting preventative measures in place. However, it is also vital that employers have a clear process in place for helping employees to resolve MSDs once a problem has occurred.
Putting in place a cost effective solution that helps to reduce sickness absence and therefore minimises the impact on the company but that also helps employees to recover quickly and safely, benefits all parties.
In the case of MSDs, physiotherapy undoubtedly improves employee wellbeing and allows them to return to work more quickly and improve productivity. Research shows that early access to physiotherapy is the most effective intervention in the first eight weeks of a musculoskeletal injury. An independent, government sponsored review of sickness absence conducted by Frost-Black, promoted the idea of early access to occupational health, including specialist physiotherapy services.
The average waiting time for physiotherapy on the NHS is 14 weeks, which means employees can be forced to take time away from work or operate at reduced levels of productivity, which clearly has an impact on both the individual and the business.
However, traditional physiotherapy solutions can be expensive and getting to appointments can be difficult and time-consuming.
One solution, being used by employers of all sizes across the UK now, is Physio Med’s blended Physiotherapy Advice Line (PAL) service. Once an employee is referred to the service by their employer, they are receive a triage call from Physio Med within a few hours, to ensure they are clinically appropriate for treatment. Within a few days they then quickly receive an initial assessment call from a Senior Chartered Physiotherapist, which incorporates a series of evidence-based clinical questions and movements to facilitate diagnosis.
They are then either referred for face-to-face treatment at a hand-picked local Physio Med practice or, in the majority of cases, receive a tailored rehabilitation package, which provides guidance, education and rehabilitation techniques in video format to enable the patient to self-manage their condition.
By providing fast access to physiotherapy, helping employees to self-manage their conditions, and therefore returning them to work more quickly, improving productivity and helping them lead normal active lifestyles, the Physio Med service is highly cost effective – with one major dairy company reporting a return on investment of almost 10:1.
MSDs will continue to affect thousands of UK workers, and employees are now looking at their employers to offer help and support in the workplace to help aid recovery.
When it comes to finding a solution that works successfully and cost-effectively for both employee and employer, physiotherapy is undoubtedly the top option.
Mark Fletcher is clinical director of Physio Med, discusses the benefits physiotherapy can bring to both employee and employer.
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