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B
ack pain is the largest cost to the public and private sector businesses worldwide. The charity BackCare estimates that back pain costs the NHS, businesses and the economy over £5 billion a year, this was supported by figures produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in 2009.
According the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is estimated that back in 2001/2, 12.3 million working days were lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders, i.e. back pain, repetitive strain injury and work related upper limb disorders, account for 49 per cent of sickness absence from work, a higher proportion than any other condition, and cost the UK economy £7 billion each year (The Work Foundation, September 2009).
Costs to employers can arise from production loss, sickness payments, accident injury claims, higher insurance premiums, high staff turnover and retraining costs was £335 million per year in 2006. Lost production as a result of low back pain alone costs at least £3.5 billion per year (Maniadakis and Gray 2000).
In 2004-5 an estimated 452,000 people in Great Britain suffered from a musculoskeletal disorder mainly affecting the back that was caused or made worse by their current or past work. Each person suffering from such a condition took an average of 17.4 days off work during this period. Back pain will affect 80% of us at some point during our lives.
Early Intervention Saves MoneySeeking care and advice early on in pain presentation or following an injury can vastly reduce working days lost and the risk of it becoming a long term problem. Of those people who were suffering their first episode of musculoskeletal pain who had early Chiropractic care, Physiotherapy and even massage intervention only 2% went on to develop chronic pain, compared to 15% who did not.
Failure to refer first episode musculoskeletal pain patients for physical therapy in the first few days following injury results in an eight fold increase in the number of patients going on to have chronic pain, and a 50% increase in patients who lose more than 10 workdays (PP Tygiel, PT, MTC et al 2008).
The good news is that chiropractic manages these types of acute back pain quicker and better than any other form of health care. At Active Health, we combine this with a physiotherapy programme of specific rehabilitation, including Pilates work, and the ergonomic and postural education required for individuals to help themselves and prevent reoccurences. Many acute patients will require only 1–3 visits for education and an exercise program. We can organise an on site work station assessment if you do not have an assessor available at your workplace.
Following a prolonged absence from work, a phased return to work may require planning to allow you to return to work as soon as possible on reduced hours or light duies. We are happy to supply a report for your Occupational Health department or Line Manager on request.
If you would like to find out more about how Active Health’s Chiropractic and Physiotherapy could cut your overheads and take better care of you and your staff contact us.
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Seminars & Workplace Assessments
We offer a range of services to businesses, including seminars for employees on how to reduce stress and risk of injury at work, and ergonomic workplace assessments. So many people are putting their bodies under constant unnecessary strain. Teaching your staff how to take care of themselves and how to set up their work stations to avoid this stress on their bodies is an effective preventative step in the battle against workplace injuries and prolonged employee absence.Pilates Classes
Pilates is a hugely popular and effective exercise technique which greatly improves core strength, flexibility, posture and balance – all essential for the body to avoid injury.We offer a personalised Pilates service to local businesses. We will organise private classes for your employees, either at your place of work, or at a nearby venue. Classes are led by either our lead Physiotherapist Sacha Swift-Smith or one of our Chiropractors Zoe Pantelios. Both fully trained Pilates instructors, they also use their expertise in the fields of chiropractic and physiotherapy to help tailor exercises to each individual, and are well-equipped to recognise more serious injury or weakness.
Many people can not find the time to attend exercise classes outside of work. Unlike a gym however, we bring the exercise class to you, along with a fully qualified and professional instructor. Class times, location and frequency are all chosen to suit your needs and those of your employees. It is a tailor-made class, which will not only provide a service to your staff, it will significantly improve their strength against postural stress and injury both at work and at home.
Massage
Whether you are looking for an incentive offer, a means of stress-management, or just a boost to team morale, office massages are an easy and effective option. Work environments place prolonged and repetitive strain on workers’ bodies. Whether your employees sit at a desk for long periods, or run between adrenaline-fuelled and stress-charged meetings, their bodies will no doubt pay the price.Massage therapy can relieve muscle stiffness, improve circulation, reduce stress and increase energy levels. Reducing the build-up of tension in this way can also lessen the susceptibility to injury and resulting pain.
We can provide massages anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour long, at a person’s desk, or in a private room, treating the entire body or focusing on a troublesome spot. Whatever your needs, we will tailor our visit to meet them.
For further information on our corporate packages, or to book a visit from our team, please contact our Practice Manager at info@theactivehealthclinic.com
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Active Health’s Community Outreach Project is a charitable initiative whereby we donate our services to local businesses and local events in Bath. In addition to charitable donation as we’ve done in the past, we are now choosing to put something back into Bath by offering our time and expertise free of charge.
Our team give up an afternoon at a time to answer ergonomic and spinal health questions, posture checks, free massages and free advice for anyone who has concerns or questions either about their own health or about Physiotherapy and/or Chiropractic treatments. People usually can’t get this advice without having to pay for it, so it is a great opportunity for your employers and employees alike to pick our brains.
These events have proved a great success, receiving hugely positive feedback from those who have attended. Employees of businesses we have visited have benefited from free and expert advice concerning injuries or pain they are having to cope with, as well as a massage focusing on their problem area, giving immediate relief. They leave us armed with knowledge about their problem and about the different treatments available. For the employer it is a rare chance to provide their staff with expert care and advice for no cost whatsoever.
Below is an example of the feedback we have received from the businesses we have visited:
Dear All the Team at Active Health,
Thank you so much for the wonderful event you ran at our office last month – what a treat to have an afternoon massage at work! Our staff gave us great feedback, and your expertise and advice has given many of our staff members the confidence to seek treatment and make a positive change.
We hope to have you back again in the future, and look forward to starting our office Pilates classes with you!
Sarah Howarth Office Manager