As part of always providing you with the most up to date and
relevant information we have found an interesting website that we
would like to share with you.
The Return To Work Knowledge
Base is sponsored by Return To Work Matters Pty Ltd
and provides information and resources that help improve outcomes
in return to work and injury management.
The website is designed for a range of stakeholders including
rehabilitation professionals, workers, employers and medical
professionals and most of the information is evidence based to
encourage best practice methods and cooperation between all
stakeholders.
Items we found useful include:
- Research papers translated into plain language. The articles
can be browsed in interest group collections for example employee
or employer.
- Links to useful resources on work disability such as patient
handouts, work disability reports, treatment guidelines.
Below is an abstract from The Return To Work Knowledge
Base- www.rtwknoweldge.org endorsed by the Australasian
Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine:
Use it or lose it!
This commentary on 44 studies reveals that an inactive lifestyle
has many negative effects on health. Physical inactivity leads to
the deterioration of many body functions. The author uses the term
"the Disuse Syndrome' to describe what happens
when a number of these negative effects occur at the same
time.
Characteristics of the Disuse Syndrome are cardiovascular
vulnerability, obesity, musculoskeletal, fragility, depression and
premature aging.
The Disuse Syndrome has repeatedly been shown to occur after
prolonged inactivity and, fortunately, prevention and treatment of
the negative effects on health is cheap, safe, accessible and
effective.
For two million years humans had to be extremely physically active
to survive. Our bodies have evolved to be accustomed to a high
level of activity and our good health depends on being active. We
become unhealthy and vulnerable to physical and mental disease if
we are inactive for extended periods of time.
Humans are subject to a basic law called the Principle of Least
Effort. Simply stated, this means that when we have a task to
perform, we (like other creatures) will seek the method that
demands the least effort. That is, we have a natural tendency not
to do any more work than we have to.
To overcome the Principle of Least Effort and get the physical
activity we need, we have to be both disciplined and determined.
The motto of the Disuse Syndrome is 'use it or lose it'. The good
news is that the problems caused by disuse of the body can be
turned around by work, exercise and activity.
A worker's perspective
An inactive lifestyle without adequate exercise leads to a
smorgasbord of illness and disease - muscle and bone wastage, heart
disease, blood clots, impaired lung function, digestive and
gastrointestinal problems, kidney and bladder problems, a poor sex
life, hormone disorders, sensory and nervous disorders are all on
the menu. Not giving your body the exercise it needs can cause
obesity, depression, vulnerability to heart disease, muscle and
bone fragility, premature aging and early death.
When a person has been inactive for some time, return to activity
and fitness can be difficult. A range of approaches can make this
easier, such as a program of gradually increasing activity, setting
specific goals, doing exercises with others, and using pastimes
that you enjoy to keep active. Talk to your treaters about what is
important for you, and what might help you to get back to an active
lifestyle.
An employer's perspective
A problem for employees that arises from any extended time off
work due to illness and injury is that they can become used to a
physically passive lifestyle, which in turn can have a very
damaging effect on the individual's health.
While rest and recuperation may be necessary to overcome some
conditions, the earliest possible return to work and to normal
activity (as far as possible) will achieve the best health outcome
for the sick or injured employee.
On the other hand, a workers' compensation claim should never be
used by an employer inappropriately (e.g. to avoid dealing with a
troublesome employee), as the employee can suffer additional
negative health consequences from imposed physical inactivity.
Inappropriate use of the workers compensation system may in the
future be considered a breach of duty of care and be legally
compensable.
Original Article, Authors & Publication Details:
W. M. Bortz II (1984).
The Disuse Syndrome.Western Journal of Medicine;
141(5):691-4.
1Health Care Division, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Palo Alto,
California.
If you have found any great websites that would be useful
for other rehabilitation and return to work coordinators' please
share by adding the web address in the comments section
below.
