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Ergonomics Physiotherapy And Repetitive Strain Injury Prevention



Ergonomics is concerned with the "best fit" of people and their work or work processes.

The focus is people, understanding their physical, mental and emotional abilities and restrictions, aiming to make sure that the entire work and its tasks, processes, equipments and environment of work suit the worker as good as possible.

What is Repetitive Strain Injury?

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a term used by many people to refer to a range of disorders of the neck, shoulder, arm, wrist and hand, that can be caused, or made worse by work.

RSI can be caused by people using

  • excessive force (pushing, pulling or supporting)
  • making repetitive movements
  • adopting an awkward or static posture, and
  • by spending excessive time on an activity

Environmental, psychosocial and individual factors can also play a part, including work design, organisation, management and the social environment.

More on repetitive strain injuries here.

Why consider the risks of RSI?

Injuries and accidents can occur wherever people are at work – where manual handling occurs, where there is work of a repetitive nature, or where people are seated at display screen equipment…on top of the fact that

(1) Singapore’s working population is ageing rapidly;

(2) greater awareness of productivity loss due to RSI / WMSD (workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders);

(3) growing competitive pressures in many market sectors According the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it is estimated that 12.3 million working days were lost in 2001/2002 due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD):

  1. on average, each sufferer took 19.4 days off (presenteeism and/or absenteeism)
  2. 2004, USA: Total cost of USD$12 billion from 60-70% loss of productivity due to migraine headache (Mayo Clinic Resource)
  3. 2001/2002: 4.1 million working days were lost due to RSI
  4. an HSE study in 1995/1996 estimated RSI was costing employers over $400m
  5. estimated that in 2001/2002, 396,000 people in Great Britain believed they were suffering from RSI.

To put matters in perspective, “Repetitive strain injuries accounts for 40.9% of the patients treated in our physiotherapy clinic”.

Cost to Companies: can arise from production loss, sickness payments, accident injury claims, higher insurance premiums, high staff turnover and retraining costs.

Cost to the individual is pain, possible permanent disability, time off work and loss of earnings.

phoenix rehab Human Factors Solutions

Ergonomic Workstation Evaluation

Not just for the compliance with occupational health and safety (OSHA) regulations, our focus when providing in-office or in-house workstation evaluations is primarily to boost productivity at work, decrease the risks of acquiring work-related repetitive strain injury as well as to increase satisfaction from work.

Each workstation evaluations are custom-tailored to each individual, and their individual reports will include the analysis of work set-up and workstation and the identification of risk factors.

The objective is to compose and gather a list of ergonomic risk factors associated with specific duties and tasks.

The methods used consists of observation and measurement. Following the evaluation, we will provide a report for the area assessed.

The report will include cost-effective recommendations on workstation designs and preventing and alleviating work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

What happens during the Workstation Evaluation?

  1. Staff will be interviewed and may report about their work tasks and demonstrate posture adopted at work
  2. Report of any pain/discomfort while executing tasks at work
  3. Physical assessment of the workstation set-up
  4. Biomechanical assessment of posture adopted
  5. On-site and on-the-spot modifications to improve the posture adopted immediately
  6. One-to-one short question and answer regarding ergonomic risks and solutions


Comfort Level Survey

This survey is to determine and analyse the subjective and objective comfort level of the employees in a particular job or work area.

From the survey, we will be able to provide you with information on your employees’ health profile.

We recommend that the survey covers all the employees or an appropriate sample representative of the organization.

  1. Employee Health Survey (EHS) to be administered
  2. Repetitive Strain Injury Screener (RSI-S) to identify workers who already have RSI and those who are at risk of developing RSI for health initiatives and preventative measures


Talks, Workshops and Group Trainings

The purpose of training and education is to ensure that employees are sufficiently informed and educated on the hazards to which they may be exposed to and hence be able to participate actively and independently in their own protection in the future.

The trainings may be in the forms of talks and demonstrations, as well as workshops and seminars.

Human Factors Consultancy rates

All-in-One Comprehensive Package
$550 per employee/workstation

Includes the following services:

  1. Ergonomic Workstation Evaluation (EWE) plus individual report ($350)
  2. Comfort Level Survey ($200) consisting of Repetitive Strain Injury Screener (RSI-S) and Employee Health Survey (EHS)

Basic Workstation Evaluation Package per employee/workstation

Includes the assessment and detailed report costs as follows:

  1. 1-10 employees $350 per person/assessment
  2. 11-25 employees $300 per person/assessment
  3. 25-50 employees $250 per person/assessment
  4. Over 50 employees – please contact us for a quotation

This involves the analysis of work set-up and workstation and the identification of risk factors. The objective is to compose and gather a list of ergonomic risk factors associated with specific duties and tasks. The methods used consists of observation and measurement. Following the evaluation, we will provide a report for the area assessed. The report will include cost-effective recommendations on workstation designs and preventing and alleviating work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Basic Comfort Level Survey Package
$200 per employee/workstation

Includes the following services:

  1. Repetitive Strain Injury Screener (RSI-S) plus individual report ($100)
  2. Employee Health Survey (EHS) plus individual report ($100)

This survey is to determine and analyse the subjective and objective comfort level of the employees in a particular job or work area. From the survey, we will be able to provide you with information on your employees’ health profile. We recommend that the survey covers all the employees or an appropriate sample representative of the organization.

[Ad hoc] Follow Up Consultation ($350 per hour)

On-Site Talks and Demonstrations
($450 - $600 per talk)

Physiotherapy and ergonomic talks and demonstrations will be targeted at all employees. Each session may cater up to 100 employees/participants.

The duration of each talk is about an hour.

Topics covered includes:

  1. Common injuries due to poor postures and human factors
  2. Risk factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders such as back and neck strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, de quervain’s tenosynovitis and trigger finger
  3. Correct working postures
  4. Setting up a user-friendly workstation
  5. Stretching exercises

Workshops and Training Course
$950 half day workshop; $1750 full-day workshop)

This is a half-day to full-day program that can cater up to 30 participants per session.

The topics covered include:

  1. Common injuries due to poor ergonomics
  2. identifying risk factors and hazards
  3. Developing an ergonomics program
  4. Setting up a user-friendly workstation
  5. Proper postures and biomechanics
  6. Stretching exercises


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book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

Phoenix Rehab Physio Services

Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.



HAND THERAPY & CUSTOMIZED SPLINTING

Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, usually will benefit / require Hand Therapy to

  1. manage and decrease hand pains
  2. improve range of motion, strength and dexterity
  3. increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations

Commonly treated hand pain injuries includes



REFORMER CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing.

It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.

You may do Pilates as matwork or with the reformer or both, and every session will be customized 100% to your fitness, injury and tolerance.



TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

  • Cupping TCM
  • Auricular Therapy TCM
  • Herbal TCM Medicine & Supplementation



DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY

Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired, tight and tense muscles to accelerate recovery and  shorten downtime / recovery period required.

It also prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and potential ruptures), and increases muscle performance. Having regular deep tissue and sports massage will keep your muscles healthy and fit with body/movement-confidence.

Read the benefits of regular deep tissue release therapy here.



ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).

See our entire team here with introductions and their specializations.

At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session.

Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.

do Tell Your Family, Friends And Colleagues About Us =)

We appreciate you as our valued clients and want you to know that the # 1 way we grow as a clinic / brand is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.

We prefer not to rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the chance, please tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our physio clinics.

book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

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