Medbound Times had an educational session with Dr. Deepankar Das PT regarding Occupational Hazards and Industrial Physiotherapy.
Dr. Deepankar Das has set up a specialty Physiotherapy and Ergonomics clinic in Gurugram, India by the name of Physio Ergo.
The goal of industrial physiotherapy, commonly referred to as occupational physiotherapy, is to promote the health and wellbeing of workers in industrial settings while avoiding and managing work-related injuries. To guarantee a safe and healthy workplace, industrial physiotherapists collaborate closely with employers, staff members, and other medical experts.
Here is a description of how industrial physiotherapy functions, backed up by research:
Injury Prevention and Ergonomics: Assessing and resolving ergonomic risks at work is a critical responsibility of industrial physiotherapists. They look at equipment, workspaces, and job duties to find potential risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries. Industrial physiotherapists contribute to a decrease in the frequency of job-related injuries by executing ergonomic interventions and suggesting suitable work adjustments. The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions in lowering musculoskeletal illnesses and increasing worker outcomes was established by a systematic review published in the journal Applied Ergonomics (Bhattacharya et al., 2016).
Rehabilitation and Return-to-Work Programs: Industrial physiotherapists assist injured workers in recovering from their injuries and returning to their jobs in a safe and effective manner. To restore function and reduce impairment, they create and carry out specific treatment regimens that include physical therapy, manual therapy, and other modalities. According to studies published in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, multimodal rehabilitation programs, which include physiotherapy, are beneficial at facilitating satisfactory return to work outcomes for injured workers (Lambeek et al., 2011).
Worksite Health Promotion: Industrial physiotherapists support workplace wellness initiatives by increasing general health. They may perform health evaluations, give instruction on injury avoidance and good lifestyle choices, and assist with companies to create wellness programs catered to the individual requirements of employees. A study in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health showed the beneficial effects of workplace health promotion programs, including physiotherapy interventions, on employee health outcomes (Proper et al., 2019).
Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE):
Industrial physiotherapists will conduct Functional Capacity Evaluations to examine a person's physical capabilities and limitations in relation to occupational demands. FCEs provide insight into a worker's preparedness to resume work, evaluate their suitability for a position, and help with rehabilitation planning. The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation has evidence that shows FCEs to be an effective tool for forecasting work-related outcomes and assisting in decision-making in industrial settings. (Gross et al., 2011).
Workforce Training and Education: Industrial physiotherapists like Dr. Deepanakr Das, frequently conduct training sessions for staff members on ergonomics, safe work procedures, and injury prevention. These training programs increase workers' knowledge and abilities, which lowers the possibility of accidents at work and fosters a safety-conscious workplace culture. The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation has published a comprehensive evaluation that found workplace training interventions increased knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors linked to injury prevention. (Nicholson et al., 2017).
A study published in the journal Physical Therapy reported that physiotherapists experience a high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the lower back, neck, and shoulder regions (Rundcrantz et al., 2015).Dr. Deepankar Das, MPT, Ergonomist
To protect the safety, wellbeing, and productivity of workers in industrial settings, industrial physiotherapy generally incorporates evidence-based therapies, ergonomic assessments, rehabilitation programs, and health promotion initiatives. Industrial physiotherapists help to prevent work-related accidents and to improve employee health and productivity by taking a proactive approach.
It's vital to remember that depending on the particular working conditions and personal circumstances, industrial physiotherapy's effectiveness may change. As a result, cooperation with other medical specialists and adherence to pertinent workplace health and safety regulations are crucial for the best results.