RTW Matters - Articles tagged under Treatment approaches

Articles tagged under ‘Treatment approaches’

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From patient to pain detective — Kieran O'Sullivan's pattern-based approach
Irish physiotherapist Kieran O'Sullivan shares practical tools to help patients identify their personal pain triggers and break the cycle of persistent back pain.
Influencing whiplash outcomes — Using WhipPredict, value-based healthcare and stress-inoculation in a novel stratified, bundled-care program
A novel whiplash treatment program that uses predictive analytics and psychological resilience training to match care to patient risk levels is delivering improved recovery outcomes and cost savings.
IPAR's VR-based approach to persistent pain in workers' compensation
IPAR Rehabilitation's approach using virtual reality technology and coaching is rethinking pain education and improving RTW outcomes for injured workers with persistent pain.
Evolve Pain Academy puts people at the centre of their pain recovery
People with chronic pain want to be in control of their recovery. A social enterprise is training clinicians to make this happen.
Australian study seeks work-focused CBT practitioners and clients. Can you help?
A research project is exploring the gap between guidelines and practice in work-focused CBT and is recruiting participants who have delivered or received this approach. Your story or that of someone you know could help shape future practice and help others return to work.
Webinar recording — Value-based care in action: Leveraging digital programs for tangible outcomes in workers' compensation.
The webinar explores how digital health solutions can improve workers' compensation outcomes through evidence-based care delivery and proper evaluation frameworks.
The Perx of using digital solutions to drive better recovery outcomes
An innovative partnership between WorkSafe Victoria and Perx Health shows how digital solutions can improve recovery outcomes for injured workers.
A story of hope for people living with persistent pain — Part 3: the clinician’s role in managing chronic back pain
The final instalment of our summary of the podcast conversation between Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Professor Peter O'Sullivan highlights how clinicians' approaches, beliefs and communication can affect patient outcomes and overall well-being.
A story of hope for people living with persistent pain — Part 2: How movement and breathing can help back pain
A podcast conversation between Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and Professor Peter O'Sullivan is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with back pain. In Part 2 of our 3-part summary of this conversation, O'Sullivan discusses the importance of relaxation, proper breathing and varied movement in pain management.
How Return to Work SA’s Surgery Assist program is enhancing recovery and RTW — Part 2
Return to Work SA’s approach to supporting injured workers through surgery and recovery is delivering pleasing results.
How Return to Work SA’s Surgery Assist program is enhancing recovery and RTW — Part 1
Return to Work SA’s approach to supporting injured workers through surgery and recovery is delivering pleasing results.
StressModex — the online training for clinicians revolutionising whiplash treatment
At the Research to Real World for Compensable Injury Symposium in June 2024, Professor Sterling spoke about the work she and her team are doing around clinician training in integrated psychological and physical care, particularly for acute whiplash injury.
From health tourist to driver — recovery-oriented messages from Professor Peter O’Sullivan
Professor Peter O’Sullivan discusses what he sees as the problems with our current models of healthcare and the key messages he likes to give people who are struggling with back pain.
‘Pain Factory’ exposes chronic pain care — and The Conversation picks up the baton
Two articles in The Conversation pick up on revelations in the recent Four Corners episode on how chronic pain care is failing Australians.
The power of words in health (Part 3) — 5 tips to shift the way you talk about osteoarthritis
Five suggestions for how clinicians can shift the conversation from an ‘impairment’ to a ‘participatory-based’ approach to osteoarthritis.
The power of words in health — changing the conversation about osteoarthritis (Part 1)
How we talk about health profoundly impacts how we think and act when managing our well-being.
Webinar recording — Revolutionising Chronic Low Back Pain Management with Cognitive Functional Therapy
Peter O’Sullivan, Distinguished Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, and Peter Kent, Adjunct Associate Professor of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, share their knowledge and insights from the RESTORE clinical trial.
Navigating the counterintuitive road to recovery after musculoskeletal injury
An article written for orthopaedic surgeons about what they can do to help patients’ recovery holds some interesting insights for all health professionals who work with injured workers.
Webinar recording — Rethinking modern pain treatment
Ben Sheat, General Manager, Professional Services and Partnerships at Reality Health, looks at modern pain science education and strategies to ensure high-quality, scientifically accurate, compelling and persuasive pain education.
Self-management of ongoing pain — ideal but still elusive
By combining psychology-based skills with traditional pain management approaches healthcare providers can offer their patients a more comprehensive approach to managing pain.
Webinar recording — Empowering the injured worker to take control of their management
A specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist talks about empowering injured workers to take an active role in managing their recovery.
A new guide to help primary care practitioners treat people with low back pain
There's a new guide for primary care practitioners who work with people with low back pain.
Managing musculoskeletal conditions at work (Part 1) — breaking the boom and bust cycle
A musculoskeletal physiotherapist talks about what pain is, ‘boom and bust behaviour’, activity pacing, making a flare-up plan and other useful self-management tips.
From the inside out — behaviour change tips and techniques to manage osteoarthritis
Behaviour change techniques to overcome the challenges of trying to stick to a management plan.
Pain sites — the best self-management podcasts and websites
We’ve created a list of the best evidence-based websites and podcasts to help people with chronic pain — and the healthcare practitioners and RTW professional who help them — manage their conditions.
Recovery at home — the overARChing intent of an innovative rehab model
An innovative technology-supported model of rehabilitation takes remote therapy to another level. And achieves impressive results for injured workers.
New clinical care standard for low back pain — a story of hope
The new Low Back Pain Clinical Care Standard aims to make sure patients with this common condition get the best outcomes.
Telerehabilitation for spine pain in the lockdown era — not the same, but better
Telerehabilitation on pain and disability in patients with spine pain achieved more improvement than 'hands-on' treatment.
Caring for people with chronic musculoskeletal pain — a paradigm shift to solve a 'super wicked problem'
A new approach to manage chronic musculoskeletal needs many scheme participants to commit to a ‘paradigm shift’.
Webinar recording — It pays to care: from policy to practice
Dr Mary Wyatt introduces the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's recently-launched policy on work injury scheme design and explores some practical approaches to improve how our schemes operate.
3 orthopaedic surgeries that might be doing patients (and their pockets) more harm than good
Guidelines for diagnosing, managing and trouble-shooting mental health claims
GP guidelines on the assessment and management of work-related mental health conditions aim to reduce unnecessary “unfit for work” certificates and improve recovery outcomes.
Fantastically sensible guidelines for back pain treatment
Webinar recording: Prevalence and patterns of health service use in compensated Australian workers with low back pain
In this webinar, Michael Di Donato reports on his recent research into imaging and opioid use in compensated Australian workers with low back pain.
Webinar recording: Best practice physiotherapy consultations, a focus on function and return to work
For patients with high distress or low self efficacy, health care can inadvertently do harm. How can physiotherapists avoid these pitfalls and promote recovery instead?
How to really reassure
Patient / treater rapport, emotional validation and education backed by experiences that demonstrate the truth of what has been learned bring long-term benefits to patients with back pain, according to spine expert Dr Donald Murphy. Can GPs do it?
Bad reassurance: "You’re fine! Don’t worry!"
Doctors and allied health professionals aiming to avoid over-treatment can actually make things worse for patients with back pain by offering reassurance that fails to reassure, according to spine care specialist Dr Donald Murphy.
Webinar recording: Barriers and enablers to healthcare professionals adopting a patient-centered (biopsychosocial) approach.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Wendy Ng & Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Tim Mitchell address the issue of the implementation of patient-centered care in clinical practice.
Workers' compensation needs better healthcare - Part 2
Positive change may be inspired by centers of excellence and everyday positivity emulated by treating practitioners.
Workers’ compensation needs better health care – Part I
Dr Wyatt explains how problems with agency, explanation deficits, delays and disputes, over-medicalisation and failure to deal with distress and whole, complex people (rather than just their medical problems) derail health outcomes in workers' comp.
Webinar recording: The Elephant in the room - too much medicine
Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Professor Peter O'Sullivan from Curtin University, discusses why current approaches do not improve outcomes and examines what needs to change.
SIRA answers questions about value-based healthcare
Petrina Casey of SIRA discusses the benefits and challenges of value-based healthcare (VBH) in workers' compensation.
How do we walk back non-evidence-based medicine?
The road to the de-adoption of low value healthcare is littered with good intentions, backseat drivers, evidence, eminence and economics.
Webinar recording: Good healthcare - what is it and is your worker getting it?
In this webinar Dr Wyatt explores what constitutes good healthcare in work injury management and how you can recognise it.
To medicalise or over-medicalise
What’s the difference, and why does it matter in workers’ compensation?
Introducing cognitive functional therapy
By creating a therapeutic "pain story," proponents of cognitive functional therapy claim the approach will break the cycle of pain-related distress and disability for individuals with persistent, non-specific musculoskeletal pain.
Webinar recording:Systematic approaches to identifying and addressing biopsychosocial barriers – the missing policy in RTW Part 3
In the third and final installment of this excellent series, Dr Pam Garton talks challenges, core components and next steps in implementing a system-wide biopsychosocial approach to injury management.
Webinar recording:Systematic approaches to identifying and addressing biopsychosocial barriers – the missing policy in RTW Part 2
In part two of a three part series on identifying and managing psychosocial issues in RTW, Dr Pam Garton discusses psychosocial assessment.
Webinar recording:Systematic approaches to identifying and addressing biopsychosocial barriers – the missing policy in RTW Part 1
In part 1 of 3, Pam Garton PhD gives us the background on her excellent research and explains how to identify psychosocial risk.
An introduction to self-compassion
A look at the emerging evidence on a meditation-based approach that promises relief from depression, anxiety and rumination.
Webinar recording: Managing shoulder injuries and rethinking our approach
This webinar looks at common shoulder conditions and explains why current diagnostic investigations and surgical procedures don't always have the benefits we'd expect.
Pilates pain or gain?
The word “pilates” conjures images of healthy people in leotards with their legs above their heads. However, pilates was initially developed to assist with rehabilitation from injury, and it's still an effective rehab tool today...
Is your workplace ready for GPs’ best practice mental health management?
World-leading Australian guidelines will help GPs better manage work-related mental health conditions. Enlightened employers should benefit, but GPs are unlikely to recommend RTW if conflict, stigma and meaningless modified duties are the norm…
Investigation: Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness are often conflated but they’re not the same. We clarify the muddy waters, then dive into the research on potential benefits and risks of mindfulness-based interventions in RTW and workers’ comp.
Can mind body treatments cure chronic pain?
Bold claims are emerging about chronic pain eliminated by psychological treatments with a mind-body focus.
How has the Clinical Framework helped?
A cooperative, supportive approach and clear expectations about treatment has helped allied health professionals get derailed RTW back on track.
Intro to the Clinical Framework
RTW Coordinators, meet the Clinical Framework, a set of principles that ensure allied health professionals provide workers comp claimants with the best possible treatment.
Knee injuries: first steps
The DOs and DON'Ts of best practice early intervention following knee injury.
Tips for patients who have big decisions to make
Doctors don't dictate your fate. Learn how to get the information you need to make good decisions about your own medical treatment.
Spinal fusion: All pain, no gain?
Australians are turning to spinal fusions to control lower back pain despite a lack of evidence. Poor outcomes are particularly likely in the workers' comp system.
Webinar recording: Effective physical rehab
The injured worker needs and deserves it.
A basic introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Learn the basics about Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the most effective forms of counselling.
Webinar recording: Physiotherapists and return to work
This panel discussion explores physiotherapy strategic approaches to improve return to work and the worker's health outcomes.
Prehabilitation: improving the results of surgery
Prehabilitation is an approach to aid people recover from surgery and increase the likelihood of a good outcome.
Dr Melita Giummarra: Injury, Compensation and Perceptions of Injustice
Monash University in association with the Transport Accident Commission conducted a study into perceptions of injustice, chronic pain and pain-related disability.
Orebro: the questionnaire you need to know about
The Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (or OMPQ) used to be known as the Acute Back Pain Screening Questionnaire.
Self-Management: training the treaters
Self-management is a vital part of recovery from illness, but how can treaters be trained to encourage self-management in their patients?
Telephone coaching for people with chronic diseases
Telephone counselling has become an increasingly popular method for providing health education, and advice on managing symptoms. It also offers emotional support at difficult times, but practitioner training is required to avoid potential pitfalls.
On Being a Company Doctor
Dr James Crompton discusses the challenges and rewards of working as a company doctor.
Role Summary: Treaters
The term, 'treaters' includes general practitioners, medical specialists and allied health professionals who provide medical assistance to ill or injured workers.
Role Summary: Rehabilitation Providers
Rehabilitation providers are multidisciplinary organisations which employ professionals from a range of health disciplines.
Role Summary: Exercise Physiologist
Exercise Physiologists are Allied Health professionals who focus on therapeutic physical exercise. They use exercise as medicine.
Making the most of a referral for pain management
What does it mean and how to make the most of it.
What is the difference between cancer and whiplash?
“When a lot of remedies are suggested for a disease, that means it can’t be cured” - Chekov
My dickie neck — the medical route is limited
Dr Mary Wyatt shares her experience as both clinician AND neck ache sufferer and concludes that self-management beats the medical route.
Recorded Webinar: Physiotherapy - how to get the best
Occupational physiotherapy expert Paul Coburn explains the principles of good physiotherapy and how you can positively influence practitioners.
Decisions about surgery: The rock and the hard place
Successful surgery starts with the best decision about whether surgery should be performed.
The opiate trap
The use of opiates in chronic pain cases should be carefully monitored. Patients need a high level of support and a good understanding of treatment options.
Who's the boss?
The health and wellbeing of people with chronic illness improves when they become 'self-managers'. Are there lessons here for RTW?
Back to the past
Back pain flare-ups are a normal part of recovery.
SPICE up your injury management
The SPICE treatment method is simple and proven since WWI.
When doctor-dollars trump sense
Does Australia have anything to learn from an American expose of the influence drug companies exert on medical research?
Are Docs Asking the Right Questions?
To treat the patient we need to know the patient
The ABC of CBT: Part Three
In which we ask: Who would benefit from CBT? How can you broach the subject of therapy in the workplace? How long does CBT take?
The ABC of CBT: Part Two
In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that when you change your behaviour, you also change your thoughts, beliefs, feelings...and rehab prospects.
The ABC of CBT: Part One
In which we - and injured worker Ms W - learn that 'C' is for 'Cognitive,' and that thoughts aren't facts.
The terrible two: UNDER-use and OVER-care
Ever wondered why some musculoskeletal injuries don't resolve as quickly as they should?
Compensation: More painful than surgery?
There is a correlation between compensation and poorer surgical outcomes. What can be done?
Making the most of a referral for pain management
What does it mean and how to make the most of it.
How do doctors assess a person's ability to work?
Medical assessments of work capacity are not always defined by what a worker is capable of. Should they be, or is it reasonable for doctors to take other factors into account?
Patient styles, distress, and what they get
How patients communicate has an important influence on the treatment they receive.
Getting real with advice for time off work
Let's put some evidence behind sick certificates
Keeping a lid on opiates
While opiates are valuable for treating severe pain, doctors need to exercise more caution towards opiate prescriptions, according to a paper by Simon Holliday.
The neck vs. the shoulder
Why we should look carefully.
Musculoskeletal conditions: Part two - dealing with MSDs
How do you deal with musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace?
Musculoskeletal conditions: Part one - a primer
Musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of compensated injury, but what exactly are they?
Communicating with doctors: the finer points
Dr Robyn Horsley explains the issues when communicating with a treating doctor.
Discussing surgery
Help workers understand the options and outcomes
Profession profile: Occupational Therapists
If your injury management program isn't bridging the gap between the workplace and the doctor's office, an Occupational Therapist could help...
Life in the slow lane
The pace of return to activity after an accident or injury is dictated by more than just physical limitations. Here are seven secrets to help you get back up to speed, shared by someone who recovered from a broken neck after a high-speed car crash.
Coaching for chronic health
When a health insurer offers support after a potentially life-threatening diagnosis, Antonia agrees to learn how to self-manage her chronic condition. Does the coaching provide value for money?
Mind power
Psychologist Colin Thompson introduces us to Mindfulness Therapy, which has been shown to assist people with problems including anxiety, chronic pain and addiction.
Rehab Providers a mystery to you?
This Q&A for employers covers the Who, What, When and How of Rehabilitation Providers
Acupuncture explained
Researchers now know how tiny, drug-free needles kill pain. This briefing paper covers what acupuncture is, and what it's good for.
Opioids: Q & A
Are opioids a safe and effective treatment for acute pain? How about chronic pain? What are the risks and benefits?
I'm having communication strain with back pain
Responding to a reader's request for help to help.
Do occ docs do it better?
If patients who see an occupational doctor get better results, why isn't it common practice?
Doctor, doctor give 'em the news
We consider why doctors fail to communicate well about return to work, and offer strategies for helping them tell their patients what they need to hear.
Recovery from spinal surgery
Spine surgeons who've had spinal surgery provide the know-how for this briefing paper on recovery and RTW.
Top ten tips for dealing with the Doc
Is "bad medicine" delaying RTW at your organisation? This top ten will help sweeten your relationship with medical practitioners in a way that supports worker recovery and timely RTW...
Is work good for you? Professor Kim Burton explains the UK's changing answer
In this interview with UK expert we learn that modern vocational rehabilitation is not about delivering an expensive service.
Dr Hari Dhir on doctor-patient communication (part 2)
The second half of Dr Dhir's doctor-patient communication insights.
Rehabilitation of cancer patients - addressing a lack
Why is it then that cancer survivors have less access to help with rehabilitation post-treatment?
How to help return to work after a mild traumatic brain injury
The importance of recognition and education in RTW after a mild traumatic brain injury and groups for whom the process is more difficult.
Before and after a brain injury
What is a brain injury and how should it be managed?

Archived Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Job opportunity: Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research
Care to take a step up into research in the role of self-management on vocational rehabilitation outcomes?
Something to think about
The way we think and process information can lead to avoidable errors.

Research 1 - 74 of 74

When ‘You're fine’ isn't fine — How physios can better reassure people with low back pain
It’s good clinical practice for physios to reassure patients with low back pain to remove their fears and concerns. But a study shows that there’s a good and a not-so-good way to do it.
Finding the right words — How clinicians can navigate the high stakes of diagnostic labels
The way clinicians label musculoskeletal pain can validate and guide patients — or create fear, confusion and unnecessary treatment.
Prescribing a path to dependency — How high-risk opioid prescriptions lock injured workers into long-term use
A study found that most workers who used opioids for back and neck injuries were prescribed them in risky ways, and those who got them early on were twice as likely to still be taking them a year later.
Improving RTW outcomes through digital coordination
A web application called PRATICAdr helps workers with mental health issues return to work successfully.
Can AI-powered tools support workers’ mental health?
A platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) could help address workplace stress, enhance work outcomes and increase access to mental healthcare.
Physical activity — the ‘go-to move’ for people living with persistent pain
A European Pain Federation position paper recommends 5 evidence-based practices for health professionals to help people with chronic pain adopt and sustain physically active lifestyles.
What do people with persistent back pain expect from their physio?
Understanding what patients expect when they attend for persistent low back pain and adopting a biopsychosocial approach is key to effective physiotherapy treatment and patient satisfaction.
Education — the key to busting myths about the need for imaging for low back pain
A study shows how common incorrect beliefs about spinal scans are and reinforces the importance of education when managing patients with this condition.
A new tool to help rehab professionals tailor care for injured workers
A new decision aid tool is showing promise in helping vocational rehabilitation professionals provide better and more tailored care to get workers back on the job.
The spine-tingling truth — guideline blindness among many physios who treat low back pain
A study finds that many physios are unfamiliar with guidelines on treating low back pain and don't apply them in practice.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy-based interventions support RTW
A study shows that cognitive-behavioural therapy-based interventions can reduce sick leave and get people back to work.
What levers can rehab professionals pull to promote staying at work after injury?
Occupational rehab professionals can help workers adopt preventive behaviours when returning to work by educating, engaging, coaching and collaborating with them.
The impact of tailored programs on RTW outcomes
A study provides valuable insights into long-term outcomes for tailored interventions in managing persistent pain.
Professional challenges in private physiotherapy practice
A study suggests that competition overrides communication and collaboration in private physio practice and compromises patient care.
What gets in the way of physios using the biopsychosocial model for persistent pain?
What things make it harder or easier for physiotherapists to use a biopsychosocial approach when treating patients with persistent musculoskeletal pain?
There’s an app for that — getting back to work after a brain injury
An app called ‘RTW after TBI’ could help people return to work and deal with the challenges they face in their daily lives after a traumatic brain injury.
A Wysa approach to recovery from work-related injury
A study of an AI drive app shows that digital psychosocial interventions can improve recovery for people with work-related injuries.
Opioids are no better than placebos for acute back and neck pain
A study busts the myth that pain medications are necessary to ‘get on top of the pain’.
Medical narratives — a telling tale of how to communicate about problems and solutions in low back pain recovery
A study shows how using medical narratives — or sharing stories about medical experiences — can influence patients’ outcomes from low back pain.
Finding the right words — the best way to reassure patients when things are uncertain
A study suggests that some types of reassurance by doctors might be more helpful than others when dealing with pain conditions with no clear cause.
The RESTORE study reinforces the benefits of cognitive functional therapy for back pain
A recent study into a new approach called Cognitive Functional Therapy offers hope for those with disabling and persistent low back pain.
What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like?
Concerns about the lack of quality of care for musculoskeletal pain conditions led researchers to see if they could identify one set of recommendations for the best practice care of a range of those conditions. They identified 11 recommendations.
From patient to partner — collaboration boosts long-term back pain self-management
Self-management is now seen as a collaboration between the person living with the pain and their health professionals. But it’s useful to understand what it is about that patient–professional partnership that can support self-management.
Exploring an AI-powered solution to long-term back pain
We’re becoming more and more aware that traditional treatments for long-term back pain — like opioid medications and surgery — can be costly, ineffective or even risky. A new, alternative treatment approach is safe and effective.
To follow, or not follow, the script? That is the question (Act 2) — physios’ attention to the human aspects of care for people with low back pain
Physios should ‘tinker with’ or ‘throw away the script’ if they want to respond in a more person-centred way to patients with low back pain.
To follow, or not follow, the script? That is the question (Act 1) — physios’ attention to the human aspects of care for people with low back pain
Physios should ‘tinker with’ or ‘throw away the script’ if they want to respond in a more person-centred way to patients with low back pain.
Person-centred care for musculoskeletal pain — a tool to put principles into practice
Person-centred care is an important part of care for people with musculoskeletal pain conditions. But evidence that some healthcare professionals struggle to integrate person-centred care principles into their clinical practice. A tool that provides a structured approach can help.
Self-managing pain — websites and other tools for healthcare and RTW practitioners
Not everyone with persistent pain conditions can access specialised pain services. How effective are websites as a tool to help them manage their pain?
What helps (and doesn’t help) people self-manage their chronic musculoskeletal pain — tools for healthcare providers
Self-management can be a game-changer in helping patients take control of their pain and start living their lives to the fullest. But it’s often easier said than done. A study shows what patients say supported or prevented them from self-managing their conditions.
Supporting self-management of long-term conditions — the ‘who for’, ‘who by’, ‘what works’ and ‘how’
It is now accepted that self-management is critical for people with chronic conditions. But what works best? And for which conditions? A comprehensive review of the evidence gives healthcare providers some ideas.
The outcomes of lumbar spinal fusion surgery — a tale of 2 studies
Lumbar spinal fusion surgery is an increasing, but controversial procedure for chronic low back pain. Two studies suggest we need to rethink its value for injured workers.
What do physios think about exercise programs to prevent low back pain?
What do we know about physiotherapists’ understanding of, attitudes to and experiences of delivering low back pain exercise programs?
Physios and patients give telehealth the thumbs up
Physios and patients who had consultations by videoconference during the COVID-19 pandemic liked that way of providing care.
GLA:D to have an evidence-informed approach for painful knees and hips
An evidence-based physiotherapy program that began in Denmark and was adopted in Australia is seeing impressive results in people with (or who have a high risk of developing) knee and hip osteoarthritis.
Opportunity to increase value in low back pain care
A single pain management skills session is as effective at reducing pain catastrophising for people with chronic low back pain as eight sessions of CBT.
What is work-focused healthcare?
Physiotherapists, rehabilitation professionals and other health practitioners treating people with work-related health problems (i.e. health problems that impact workability or are caused by work) will see better results with work-focused healthcare.
Moving away from LBP
People with chronic, non specific low back pain may benefit from treatment that identifies and alters personal patterns of movement and posture that inadvertently contribute to pain.
Treatment guidelines reduce LBP risk
Following international treatment guidelines reduces the risk of transition from short to long term lower back pain but in the US, 50% of LBP patients receive at least one form of sub par care.
Tired of MSDs
Might more ZZZs or less fatigue help workers with pain from musculoskeletal disorders recover workability?
Evidence moves on frozen shoulder treatment
After rigorously comparing all the relevant, good quality evidence available in 2020, a team of orthopaedics researchers have recommended IA cortisone as the treatment of choice for patients with frozen shoulder of less than one year.
Common knee surgery usually unhelpful, may be harmful
Evidence accumulates against arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, a common surgical procedure intended to reduce knee pain and improve function in middle to older aged patients.
Sobering news about fibromyalgia treatments
Common treatments for fibromyalgia lack a strong evidence base but exercise and antidepressants warrant further research.
How to get bang for buck from vocational rehabilitation
Multi-component vocational rehabilitation programs that intervene early and improve coordination between workers, family members, employers and health care service providers yield better outcomes for all stakeholders.
Are health apps the way forward for chronic MSDs?
A promising new digital care program that monitors exercise and offers personal health coaching and peer support has successfully engaged people with chronic MSD pain, achieving impressive reductions in pain over the course of three months.
Non-invasive, drug-free, durable treatments for chronic pain: what works?
Exercise is effective in reducing pain and improving function with many types of chronic pain – but other non-surgical, drug-free therapies can help too, including some mind-body practices.
Threat assessments make or break RTW with PTSD
Treaters and RTW professionals who want to promote safe and timely RTW amongst people with PTSD should pay particular attention to threat appraisals – i.e. whether symptoms and / or the workplace are perceived as dangerous.
Stress treatment program speeds up RTW
With cooperation between the therapist and the workplace, caring, individualised treatment for people with long-term work-stress speeds up RTW – and GPs may be able to adapt the approach
Does RTW training for physios improve outcomes?
RTW training for physiotherapists changes physical and mental health outcomes but not RTW outcomes, according to preliminary research from Victoria.
Severity of bipolar disorder does not determine disability level
This study sought to understand whether patients with bipolar disorder admitted to hospital had a greater level of disability than those who had not been.
Research short: Spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain
Researchers have found spinal manipulative therapy yields small improvements in chronic low back pain, but have questioned the practice's cost-effectiveness.
Research short: Exercise and the treatment of chronic pain
Researchers have developed an effective treatment for the vexing condition of Fibromyalgia through a detailed and prolonged exercise regimen.
Research short: Work is good for you, but...
The UK's treating practitioners say that work is beneficial, but how do they actually behave when making recommendations about back problems?
Research short: Mixed opinions
When dealing with complex or ambiguous medical problems, only half of treating practitioners come to the same conclusions about RTW.
A caring doctor is an important predictor of the success of return to work programs
Return to work programs are more likely to have positive outcomes if participants have a stable relationship with a doctor who is attentive and empathetic, and provide good information about health and social options.
Overtreatment HURTS
The US demonstrates how overtreating back pain causes more pain.
Coaching the chronically ill
Education, behavioural change and support: Effective coaching methods to assist patients
Opioid use: less is better for back pain?
Treatment with opioids delays return to work and prolongs symptoms
Self management strategies: Coaching the coaches
Many self care coaches have no formal training. Does coaching the coaches improve performance?
Working for wellness
On the job rehabilitation can improve outcomes for people with psychiatric disabilities.
I'll need a sick leave certificate too, doc...
What prevents doctors from applying best clinical practice when issuing certificates for sick leave?
Taking control of arthritis
Psychosocial approaches to managing arthritis help sufferers make the most of medical care.
Does talking cure fight depression?
Psychotherapies are an important but underutilised part of depression treatment
Approaches to managing chronic pain in the workplace - the evidence
How do we diagnose and treat chronic pain?
Multidisciplinary rehab costs $$. Is it worth it?
A comparison of the effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and standard care in the treatment of neck and shoulder pain.
Manners Matter: doctors' behaviour influences return to work and recovery of injured workers
A study looking at factors influencing the return to work and recovery of injured workers in California
Get off your backside to improve your back!
Home exercise is a cheap and effective way to improve back pain
School of (back) pain!
Brief, face-to-face education works best for chronic LBP rehabilitation
Treatment recommendations: making them stick
How to help patients adhere to treatment recommendations
Optimising occupational health
Decisions made in occupational health care that follow the 5-step protocol of evidence based medicine have good outcomes for workers and employers.
Is there a place for therapeutic RTW?
A comparison of train-before-placing and place-before-training models demonstrates that on the job rehabilitation can improve outcomes for people with psychiatric disabilities.
Locus of control and vocational rehabilitation
A sense of control over the situation improves return to work outcomes.
The empowerment of people with neck pain
Improved understanding about neck problems helps the patient get a better grasp on their condition, what can be done to improve the situation and what is likely to occur. It also helps treaters, workplaces, insurers and policy makers.
How effective is individual patient education for people with low back pain?
Evidence suggests provision of an intensive one-on-one education session can improve the short and long term return to work outcomes for patients with acute and sub-acute lower back pain.
Lifting expectations brings results
Advice for health professionals about the best attitudes for patients to adopt on the road to recovery.

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