INJURY SPECIFIC EXERCISE PROGRAMS

Our Qualified Physiotherapists utilise expert musculo-skeletal assessment in order to maximise an employee's recovery and ability to return to work through supervised, structured functionally based Exercise Programs.

For chronic clients, the use of the Orebro Musculoskeletal pain questionnaire can be combined with a physical assessment to assist in the identification of 'yellow flags" which, without correct intervention, may hinder the successful outcome of the program.

Programs are usually run at local leisure centres and gymnasiums, taking the employee out of the medical environment and into a healthy, "normal" environment.

As our staff are trained in disability and impairment, the focus is on return to optimal function.

HEALTH ASSESSMENTS

Occupational Fitness Solutions developed and copyrighted a Lifestyle Assessment Package comprising a series of valid and reliable tests to assess the health and fitness of individuals within a corporate environment. The assessment was designed to be administered by qualified, registered Health Professionals.

The Assessment takes 45 minutes to one hour to administer and includes:

• Informed Consent to an Exercise Assessment
• Employee Health Assessment Guidelines
• A Health and Lifestyle questionnaire (PAR-Q Questionnaire).
• A medical screen incorporating both physical and psycho-social analysis
• A Physical Examination including:
  • Height and weight
  • Body fat
  • Body Mass Index
  • Waist to Hip ratio
  • Blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular fitness
  • Flexibility
  • Muscular endurance
  • Lung function
• A participant feedback form and professional data collection sheet

In addition to this, Occupational Fitness Solutions can perform glucose and cholesterol testing through a portable testing unit which provides results in 12 seconds for glucose and three minutes for cholesterol.

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WELLNESS SERVICES

It is well documented a physically active lifestyle provides protection against several major chronic diseases. Regular physical exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the primary prevention of coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers (US Department of Health and Human Services: Physical Activity and Health: a Report of the Surgeon General, 1996).

Given the high prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle there is numerous benefits for an individual to become more active (Ham, Yore, Sapkota, 2004).

Today, many Australian businesses have some form of wellness program. Research is now substantiating the cost of wellness programs as for many employers the annual increase in workers compensation premiums and cost outlays associated with sick leave, repeated absenteeism, poor performance, reduced productivity, low morale etcetera are closely associated with employee health issues.

Occupational Fitness Solutions can provide:

• Health assessments i.e. blood pressure, glucose
• Stretching and exercise
• Warm up for work programs
• Group exercise (Aerobics, Pilates, Yoga and Fitball)
• Corporate massage
• Stress and relaxation and
• Workshops on health and lifestyle topics such as "Quick and healthy recipes for busy workers" or "Stressed out solutions"

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS

Occupational Fitness Solutions has a network of Health Professionals including Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Dieticians, Occupational and Sports Physicians, Personal Trainers, Occupational Therapists, Dentists, Chiropractors, Chemists, Natural Therapists and Personal Trainers who can be contracted to facilitate health and wellness workshops. The company is part of the Leederville Health Group www.leedervillehealth.com.au enabling us to draw on the expertise of various Professionals to develop workshops specific to your needs.

Currently Occupational Fitness Solutions are facilitating a number of lunch time programs including: 
    "quick recipes for busy workers"
    "stressed out solutions" a workshop on stress management and; 
    "dealing with difficult people".

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WORK CONDITIONING

Our Physiotherapists develop work conditioning programs, to replicate the critical physical demands placed on an employee at work through a structured, graded, supervised Exercise Program.

Exercises are designed to strengthen and recruit the muscle groups involved in the employee's daily work duties. These programs are often based on results obtained through a Worksite Evaluation conducted by our Occupational Therapist.

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CORE STABILITY TRAINING

Recent research shows the recruitment of the lower abdominal, pelvic and low back muscles assists in the recovery and prevention of low back injury.

Our Physiotherapists are experienced in prescribing individual core stability exercises using pilates, fitball and mat exercises. These are then progressed into functional activity so individuals can recruit the stabilising muscles of the trunk when performing daily tasks.

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OCCUPATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSESSMENT

This tool is useful if an opinion is needed on the appropriateness of Physiotherapy, timeframes estimated for treatment, treatment modalities to be used and other treatment options available to assist the employee to return to their maximum function.

Often employees aren't progressing with their injury, have excessive servicing by Health Providers, aren't receiving any treatment or a second opinion is requested. Our Principal Physiotherapist has over 20 years of Post Graduate experience working with elite sports groups and Workers Compensation clients. We can assist in these cases as often legislation only permits treatment for acute injury vs maintenance of function.

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