| Back in Action Chiropractic & Upcountry Injury Care We Make Returning To Health "Painless" |
Kahului - 95 Lono
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| Injury Prevention for Employers |
The Role of Chiropractic in Preventing Injuries in the Work PlaceIf asked about the role of a chiropractor in industry, you would probably answer that they treat injuries sustained on the job. Certainly, this is true. In fact, a high percentage of work-related injuries are neuro-musculo-skeletal in nature. As chiropractors, by our philosophy and training, we are uniquely qualified to treat these types of injuries. Since the 1970's, a number of retrospective studies have been performed on workers' compensation claim statistics in several states. Although each study differed, examined parameters included lost work days, costs compared to other types of treatment and patient satisfaction. Overall, these studies showed chiropractors provided cost-effective treatment. They found less total treatment costs as well as fewer lost work days due to injury. However, there is more to the answer of the question above. As you have been learning from the "Chiropractic Conversations" articles over the past few months, chiropractors doe much more than just treat back pain. Chiropractors focus on structure, warning signs and causes. Likewise, the chiropractor focus in industry is on prevention. We look at workplace health using a proactive model. This means we must try to prevent as many on-the-job injuries as possible instead of just reacting to them when they occur. However, even when we work proactively on workplace health, we realize that sometimes injuries occur and accidents happen. So we must try to prevent as many problems as possible yet be ready to effectively treat those that do occur. This is the chiropractic focus. Our chiropractic philosophy and training support this proactive focus. In addition, there are certificate and diploma post-graduate training programs available to doctors of chiropractic in the subspecialty of occupational health. There are many preventative strategies. These can include employee education programs, workplace stretching instruction, and individualized flexibility and strength exams with specific exercise instruction. Ergonomic assessments can be performed. Ergonomics refers to better fitting a job to a specific worker instead of having the worker (using bad posture or motions) conform to the job. Perhaps just a few simple suggestions to our patients in the office can change how they go about their work and prevent future problems. Also, on-site chiropractic preventive treatment programs can be used to correct alignment and other mechanical imbalances before an injury can occur as well as to increase the employee's innate ability to stay well. Remember, the other part of the proactive concept is to be better prepared in case of injury. The employer should have a specific procedure to follow when a worker is injured. This should help ensure prompt treatment. And, of course professional, cost-effective treatment is necessary as well. The chiropractor's role on the job can be quite important. So, the next time you hear of a friend who is treatment with a chiropractor for a work-related injury, you will remember the chiropractic proactive focus. |
Proaction PlusProaction Plus is a 5 section, 40 page resource. The 5 sections are: 1. Assessing your situation 2. Management Education Topics 3. Ergonomics 4. Employee Education 5. After injury strategies Some of the topics covered in the manual are: work injury survey, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, physical exam, non-sedentary ergonomic assessment, sedentary job ergonomic assessment, back school, and modified duty. In addition, with Proaction Plus, you will get the manual of the popular Proaction Back School back injury prevention program. Some of the topics covered in this manual are: anatomy, body activities and positions, stretching exercises, stress, and initial treatment of back injuries. |
PROACTION PLUS CONSULTINGWith Proaction Plus Consulting, you get the following items: 1. The Proaction Plus and the Proaction Back School Manuals 2. Demonstration of 1 non-sedentary job ergonomic assessment 3. Demonstration of 1 sedentary job ergonomic assessment 4. 2 hour Proaction Back School presentation for up to 25 employees which can be video taped (by you) for other employees |
CHIROPRACTIC PREVENTATIVE TREATMENTChiropractic treatment of employees may be valuable as a preventative strategy to minimize injuries. This is based on the Carondelet Foundry project of the late 1970's. It involves positioning the treating doctor at the work site to treat employees on a voluntary basis. This is not designed for the treatment of work related injuries. Typically, the employer pays for this service. It is both an employee benefit as well as a preventative strategy. This could be 1 treatment hour a month or up to 3 treatment hours (1 for each shift) once a month. |
| MUSCULO-SKELETAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION Since musculo-skeletal injuries can be an occupational health problem, the musculo-skeletal physical exam can be performed in addition to a pre-employment physical. This exam is not done to determine whether a candidate can perform the job. It is to be done after the employee has passed their physical. The purpose of the exam is to evaluate a number of musculo-skeletal parameters and then advise the new employee on exercises and other information to help the employee be better able to perform their job. Some items of the exam are: reflexes, strength, neck range of motion, flexibility, and posture. |