physical health
Management
Physical health management has three components:
1. Assessment 2. Diagnosis 3. Treatment
Assessment
There is no such thing as an effective “one-size-fits-all” approach to analysing the causes of backache, neck pain or upper limb disorder – the most common physical health problems that cause employees to take time off work. As with stress, there are usually factors outside work that contribute to a musculoskeletal disorder. And each individual has their own postural, behavioural and genetic make-up that influences their rate of recovery.
Black & Banton's individual biomechanical assessments involve:
- a discussion about symptoms, recent or past injuries and general health, to identify whether these could be causing or contributing to the current symptoms
- a thorough evaluation that includes postural, functional and ergonomic analysis as well as testing of joints, muscles and connective tissues
- an analysis of the working environment.
Diagnosis
Often, physical therapy fails because of an imprecise diagnosis, following which treatment is targeted inappropriately. Black & Banton's highly qualified musculoskeletal practitioners are trained to diagnose complex conditions and give detailed prognoses, enabling managers to plan for their employee's recovery process.
Treatment
Black & Banton's musculoskeletal practitioners use their regularly updated skills and experience to provide:
- information, reassurance and advice to stay active
- advice about pain control and management
- manual musculoskeletal therapy techniques: soft-tissue massage, joint mobilisation, stretching, postural and breathing exercises and lymphatic drainage
- a focus on regaining functional capacity
- rehabilitation and return-to-work training.
A course of treatment may typically last between two and five 30-minute sessions following the initial consultation. Short re-assessments are carried out at the start and end of each session, to monitor progress.
