For the month of August, we at Alliance Rehabilitation, are supporting Tradies National Health Month. This is the time of year where we raise awareness for the health and injury risks affecting those in trade occupations. According to Safe Work Australia, the trade industry makes up only 35 per cent of the work force yet represent a staggering 58 percent of workers’ compensation claims.
Avoiding Injury
The Australian Physiotherapy Association recommends warming up before work each morning with targeted stretches such as the quadricep stretch for the front of the thigh and pacing your workload rate throughout the day to avoid overuse and fatigue. Having good communication between team members also ensures the work is happening in a safe manner and allows you to work at a regular pace without rushing.
Back pain is the most common workplace injury for tradies due to the constant use of that part of the body for most tasks. Other injuries include shoulder issues related to repetitive reaching and holding actions, knee injuries related to repetitive bending, and ankle sprains related to working on uneven ground. These types of injuries have an impact on health, fitness, and your wellbeing due to the pain, and weakness they cause. Most injuries occur when a tradie ignores the pain to continue working. The earlier you see a physiotherapist, the quicker it will get better and you learn the tools to prevent re-injury.
Your lifting technique is important in injury prevention. Tips for the correct lifting techniques include:
- Avoid hazardous lifting – heavy or awkward objects
- Minimise lifting below waist height and above shoulder height
- Assess the load to see where it will be placed and if it must be lifted
- When possible, use lifting equipment or work with a second person
- Keep a wide base of support
- Keep the load close to your body
- Maintain the natural curves in your back
Therapy Options
Trade jobs are physically demanding and can cause a range of injuries which is why early prevention and safe work practices are so vital. The importance of physiotherapy is because the workers’ bodies are their primary work tool and if it breaks down through injury, they can no longer work at their peak performance ability.
Physiotherapists can provide safe manual handling tips, demonstrate safe stretches for injury prevention, introduce techniques that can be incorporated into a daily routine, check your workplace for risks and health hazards, and raise awareness about workplace injury prevention. They can also treat any chronic pain to reduce the likelihood of further injury and lost time at work.
Physiotherapy can help you increase your strength, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness by coming up with an exercise plan that will prepare you for the physicality of trade jobs. Your physiotherapist can assess your movements and test for weaknesses that may increase your chances of injury. Our programs are based on the individual and are made to address specific goals to ensure you are getting what you need out of your sessions. With rehabilitation, an injury can be managed at the beginning with low level movement to high levels of strength in order to be able return to full function.
Physiotherapy is not the only rehabilitation therapy available for tradies, we also have dietitians and psychologists who can help because a healthy mind and body are just as important as physical fitness. Our dietitians can provide nutrition advice for a high impact working schedule and can help you make positive changes needed to stay in peak health while working.
Looking after your mental health is just as, if not more, important than physical health. Working such long hours and doing a lot of physically demanding work can influence your mental health and our psychologists can give you tools for managing any stress or anxiety you may have with the job. Burnout is a very real possibility when working in trade jobs and having injuries that keep you away from work can cause low mood. Treating your mind while treating your body will ensure you are staying safe at work and enjoying the best quality of life.