Articles

This page lists all practical and feature articles available on RTWMatters. From top ten tips, how to guides and case studies, through to webinar recordings and video interviews with industry experts.

Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.

Click the ‘Quick Guides’ button for practical bit sized guides that give you a sound basic knowledge base.

To medicalise or over-medicalise

contributorGabrielle Lis

What’s the difference, and why does it matter in workers’ compensation?

Introducing cognitive functional therapy

contributorRTWMatters team

By creating a therapeutic "pain story," proponents of cognitive functional therapy claim the...

An introduction to self-compassion

contributorGabrielle Lis

A look at the emerging evidence on a meditation-based approach that promises relief from...

Webinar recording: Managing shoulder injuries and rethinking our approach

contributorDr Angus Forbes

This webinar looks at common shoulder conditions and explains why current diagnostic...

Pilates pain or gain?

contributorStefanie Garber

The word “pilates” conjures images of healthy people in leotards with their legs above their...

Is your workplace ready for GPs’ best practice mental health management?

contributorGabrielle Lis

World-leading Australian guidelines will help GPs better manage work-related mental health...

Investigation: Mindfulness

contributorGabrielle Lis

Meditation and mindfulness are often conflated but they’re not the same. We clarify the muddy...

Can mind body treatments cure chronic pain?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Bold claims are emerging about chronic pain eliminated by psychological treatments with a...

How has the Clinical Framework helped?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

A cooperative, supportive approach and clear expectations about treatment has helped allied...

Intro to the Clinical Framework

contributorRTWMatters team

RTW Coordinators, meet the Clinical Framework, a set of principles that ensure allied health...

Knee injuries: first steps

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

The DOs and DON'Ts of best practice early intervention following knee injury.

Tips for patients who have big decisions to make

contributorGabrielle Lis

Doctors don't dictate your fate. Learn how to get the information you need to make good...

Spinal fusion: All pain, no gain?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Australians are turning to spinal fusions to control lower back pain despite a lack of evidence....

Webinar recording: Effective physical rehab

contributorDamien Amsuss

The injured worker needs and deserves it.

A basic introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

contributorFerdinand Marin

Learn the basics about Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most effective forms of...

Webinar recording: Physiotherapists and return to work

contributorRoss Iles & Paul Coburn

This panel discussion explores physiotherapy strategic approaches to improve return to work and...

Prehabilitation: improving the results of surgery

contributorA. Richey

Prehabilitation is an approach to aid people recover from surgery and increase the likelihood of...

Dr Melita Giummarra: Injury, Compensation and Perceptions of Injustice

contributorA. Richey

Monash University in association with the Transport Accident Commission conducted a study into...

Orebro: the questionnaire you need to know about

contributorA. Richey

The Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (or OMPQ) used to be known as the Acute Back Pain...

Self-Management: training the treaters

contributorA. Richey

Self-management is a vital part of recovery from illness, but how can treaters be trained to...

Telephone coaching for people with chronic diseases

contributorA. Richey

Telephone counselling has become an increasingly popular method for providing health education,...

On Being a Company Doctor

contributorDr James Crompton

Dr James Crompton discusses the challenges and rewards of working as a company doctor.

Role Summary: Treaters

contributorA. Richey

The term, 'treaters' includes general practitioners, medical specialists and allied health...

Role Summary: Rehabilitation Providers

contributorA. Richey

Rehabilitation providers are multidisciplinary organisations which employ professionals from a...

Role Summary: Exercise Physiologist

contributorA. Richey

Exercise Physiologists are Allied Health professionals who focus on therapeutic physical...

Making the most of a referral for pain management

contributorBronnie Thompson

What does it mean and how to make the most of it.

What is the difference between cancer and whiplash?

contributorDavid Butler

“When a lot of remedies are suggested for a disease, that means it can’t be cured” -...

My dickie neck — the medical route is limited

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Mary Wyatt shares her experience as both clinician AND neck ache sufferer and concludes that...

Recorded Webinar: Physiotherapy - how to get the best

contributorPaul Coburn

Occupational physiotherapy expert Paul Coburn explains the principles of good physiotherapy and...

Decisions about surgery: The rock and the hard place

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Successful surgery starts with the best decision about whether surgery should be performed.

The opiate trap

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

The use of opiates in chronic pain cases should be carefully monitored. Patients need a high...

Who's the boss?

contributorGabrielle Lis

The health and wellbeing of people with chronic illness improves when they become...

Back to the past

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Back pain flare-ups are a normal part of recovery.

SPICE up your injury management

contributorDr Mary Wyatt and Tom Barton

The SPICE treatment method is simple and proven since WWI.

When doctor-dollars trump sense

contributorGabrielle Lis

Does Australia have anything to learn from an American expose of the influence drug companies...

Are Docs Asking the Right Questions?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

To treat the patient we need to know the patient

The ABC of CBT: Part Three

contributorGabrielle Lis

In which we ask: Who would benefit from CBT? How can you broach the subject of therapy in the...