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.

‘How I explain common conditions to my patients’ — messages from a chiropractor

contributorLauren Finestone

Rob Beaven, chiropractor, blogger and host of The back pain podcast, tells us how he explains...

The power of words in health (Part 3) — 5 tips to shift the way you talk about osteoarthritis

contributorLauren Finestone

Five suggestions for how clinicians can shift the conversation from an ‘impairment’ to a...

The power of words in health (Part 2) — changing the conversation about osteoarthritis

contributorLauren Finestone

Clinicians and people with knee osteoarthritis can shift the conversation about osteoarthritis...

The power of words in health — changing the conversation about osteoarthritis (Part 1)

contributorLauren Finestone

How we talk about health profoundly impacts how we think and act when managing our well-being.

Webinar recording — Rethinking modern pain treatment

contributorBen Sheat

Ben Sheat, General Manager, Professional Services and Partnerships at Reality Health, looks at...

Webinar recording — Empowering the injured worker to take control of their management

contributorDr Darren Beales

A specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist talks about empowering injured workers to take an...

Webinar recording — X-ray visions of doom: Why radiology results can hinder back pain self-management

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Dr Wyatt discusses the rise in spinal radiology over the last 30 years and the harms that come...

EAST-ern medicine — how behavioural science can help people self-manage their health and wellbeing

contributorLauren Finestone

A guide about what drives our behaviour can help people living with long-term conditions and...

Managing musculoskeletal conditions at work (Part 2) — 6 steps to a job change

contributorLauren Finestone

For some people with back pain or other musculoskeletal conditions, self-management may mean...

Managing musculoskeletal conditions at work (Part 3) — your legal rights and responsibilities

contributorLauren Finestone

A legal expert talks about rights and responsibilities at work if someone has musculoskeletal...

Managing musculoskeletal conditions at work (Part 1) — breaking the boom and bust cycle

contributorLauren Finestone

A musculoskeletal physiotherapist talks about what pain is, ‘boom and bust behaviour’, activity...

From the inside out — behaviour change tips and techniques to manage osteoarthritis

contributorLauren Finestone

Behaviour change techniques to overcome the challenges of trying to stick to a management plan.

From dictator to facilitator — reframing the role of therapists in patient care

contributorLauren Finestone

We’ve been discussing the role of physiotherapy in self-management for decades – how much...

Self-management — the muscle behind effective musculoskeletal care

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Self-management of long-term musculoskeletal conditions 101 — the basics.

Caring for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain — a paradigm shift to solve a 'super wicked problem'

contributorLauren Finestone

A new approach to manage chronic musculoskeletal needs many scheme participants to commit to a...

Work-focused health care: practical suggestions for how to do it

contributorLauren Finestone

Practical suggestions for how physiotherapists and other healthcare practitioners can provide...

‘Self-management’ of chronic musculoskeletal pain: what patients say helps them do it (or not)

contributorLauren Finestone

Patients are encouraged to ‘self-manage’ their chronic pain conditions. But there are external...

Webinar recording: Best practice physiotherapy consultations, a focus on function and return to work

contributorDavid Elvish

For patients with high distress or low self efficacy, health care can inadvertently do harm. How...

Webinar recording: The Elephant in the room - too much medicine

contributorProfessor Peter O'Sullivan

Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Professor Peter O'Sullivan from Curtin University,...

Webinar recording: Managing shoulder injuries and rethinking our approach

contributorDr Angus Forbes

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

Webinar recording: Understanding musculoskeletal problems - Part 3 - Shoulders and knees

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

In our final webinar of our series, Dr Wyatt explains common shoulder and knee problems and how...

Webinar recording: Understanding musculoskeletal problems - Part 1: Introduction

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

In part one of a three part series, Dr Wyatt covers the basics of musculoskeletal conditions,...

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...

Case Study: Time to heal

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Mr L, a tall, solid-framed, right-handed 58 year old man, reported pain in his right elbow....

Case Study: How Things Can Go Wrong in Compensation Cases

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

This case study looks at the additional injuries which can occur as a result of the workplace...

eLearning: Musculoskeletal troubles

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Understanding the difficulties everyone faces with musculoskeletal problems can help you help...

Recorded Webinar: Physiotherapy - how to get the best

contributorPaul Coburn

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

The lowdown on lifting

contributorDr Jos Verbeek and Dr Mary Wyatt

Dr Jos Verbeek talks about a review of research on training employees to lift to prevent back...

Musculoskeletal hazards: Why ticking the box gets a red cross

contributorGabrielle Lis

Assessing risk isn't about ticks and crosses in a box. So why do Australian workplaces tend to...

Musculoskeletal conditions: Part two - dealing with MSDs

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

How do you deal with musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace?

Musculoskeletal conditions: Part one - a primer

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of compensated injury, but what exactly are they?

OK computer: the basics of office ergonomics

contributorSean Gleeson

If you spend your working week perched in front of your computer, it's vital that you educate...

Office ergonomics

contributorTom Barton

Keep your workers happy, healthy and productive! Find out why ergonomics is important and then...

Musculoskeletal injuries and mental illness

contributorGabrielle Lis

Many Australians experience a mental disorder while also suffering from a musculoskeletal...

Make no bones about it

contributorTom Barton

The Australian Government has made arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions national health...

Are workplace activities harmful?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Despite growing perceptions that workplace activities cause and complicate injuries, the...

Common causes of workplace pain

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Understanding musculoskeletal pain will increase productivity and health.

Just how painful is injury reporting?

contributorDr Mary Wyatt

Knowing when injury reports should be made and how they should be dealt with can reduce the pain...