Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 1
Introduction
1. 2. 3. 4. Overview of the Rehabilitation Industry Role of Exercise Therapy Background of Fully Integrated Training, Tasmania Opportunities available

1. Overview of the Rehabilitation Industry

Occupational Injuries Occupational injury remains a significant cause of death and disability as well as being a major social and economic cost. While there have been important improvements in occupational safety over many years resulting in reduced exposure to hazards, the nature of work and the pressures of the workplace mean that the potential for accidents will remain. In addition, changing patterns of work and technology are resulting in changing patterns of injury. In Australia, some 500 deaths each year result from work related incidents and on average there are 200,000 work related injuries that require more than five days off work. The total cost of these injuries is conservatively estimated at $9 billion annually (Routley & Valeri, 1993). A total of 53 work related deaths were analysed by the Victorian coroner in 1989-90. Of these, all but one was a male. Half were related to vehicle accidents, with the other main categories being falls and falling objects, burns and electric shocks (OHSA, 1993). Aims of Rehabilitation Programs The aim of rehabilitation is to firstly maintain an injured/ill worker at work. This of course is not always possible and the following outcomes could be expected of a worker returning to work after a period of absence:

Return to pre-injury duties Return to modified pre-injury duties Return to new duties Retraining to assist with new employment

Not every injured/ill employee will require rehabilitation to return to work. Many employees will be able to return to work after a short period of recuperation, but for some, rehabilitation assistance will be essential for a successful integrated return to work program.

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Early Intervention Successful rehabilitation is based on early intervention. This means that employers must:

Recognise Early Warning Signs

Recognise a Change In Work Patterns Recognise any Reduction in Performance

Employees should react to the first complaints of pain, report to their supervisor and seek early medical advice. Early intervention can often prevent the onset of a more serious injury and allow the employee to remain at work, leading a productive and healthy life. Benefits of Rehabilitation There are many benefits to be gained by both the employer and the employee when occupational rehabilitation is actively supported in the workplace:

Minimises the seriousness of the injury Minimises lost time and any loss of salary Minimises the loss of self-esteem, social contacts, specific work conditioning and other related skills

The Iceberg Effect As mentioned in previous WHP sessions, just like an iceberg, workplace injuries can turn out to be much bigger than they originally seem. The most concerning factor for employees is that the term big normally relates to dollars. Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention programs can decrease both up front and hidden costs of in the workforce by minimising:

Injuries Work Cover premiums Replacement of staff Staff training Decreased productivity Staff turnover

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2. Role of Exercise Therapy

Injury or Exercise Rehabilitation, outside of the sporting environment, has long been seen as an optional extra to rehabilitating an individual rather than an integral part. This has been partly due to the negative image of gyms and personal trainers only catering for the healthy or gym orientated individual. However, with the increase of sports scientists and the like becoming involved with exercise rehabilitation it is now gaining credibility and recognition for its benefits, especially within a one to one setting. For this reason it is essential to realise that exercise rehabilitation is NOT personal training with restrictions. Exercise Therapy is categorized into two basic areas: Compensable Rehabilitation and Private Rehabilitation (which is conducted through Personal Training sessions). Compensable Rehabilitation Compensable Rehabilitation includes workplace accidents that are covered under the workers compensation system, and Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) which are covered by the Motor Accidents Authority. For both workers compensation and MVAs, the injured person is covered for a structured injury rehabilitation program with the focus on returning the client to their pre-injury state. The only exemption to this is in the case of a MVA where the injured person is deemed negligent and then they are required to self-fund all future rehabilitation expenses. To provide services for compensible rehabilitation in Australia it is generally deemed necessary to hold a degree in sports science/exercise physiology and to be accredited with the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science (AAESS). Private Rehabilitation Private Rehabilitation is a service that is offered by a growing number of personal trainers across the globe. To offer private rehabilitation services you need to have a thorough understanding of the musculo-skeletal system, exercise physiology, exercise programming, different types of sporting injuries, lifestyle diseases and the most common workplace injuries, sound communication skills and practical experience. Most clients you train are going to have a past injury from work or sport, or are likely to suffer from various types of stiffness and minor injury prevention as you continue your relationship into the future. Offering both an Injury Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention service is a great way of keeping clients long-term and also generating new leads.

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3. Background of Fully Integrated Training, Tasmania

Fully Integrated Training (FIT) has been operating for more than 6 years and started in Hobart, Tasmania. In the early days FIT was a Personal Training business owned and operated by Andrew May. After 12 months the business expanded into Exercise Therapy and began offering injury rehabilitation programs for Compensible Insurance (Workers Compensation and MVAs) and Private Rehabilitation for personal clients. After 2 years FIT began offering Worksite Health services and also set up an operations base in Launceston. FIT now has business units in Hobart, Launceston and Sydney and specializes in Injury Rehabilitation, Personal Training and Worksite Health Promotion (WHP). The recently launched WHP division is now called Healthy Business and has clients in New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland. This manual was put together by staff members of FIT TAS Pty Ltd. in 2000. The following people were responsible for producing this manual: Ricky Langford, Stuart Thomas, Andrew Bonsey, Marcus Burston and Andrew May.

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