Functional Restoration Programme

For those employees who are off work with chronic musculoskeletal disorders and “at risk” of long term absence, we recommend our specialist Functional Restoration Programme.

These employees normally report long term activity restrictions or recurrent or long term absence from work and have psychosocial barriers to recovery.

This programme is suitable for employees who have been off work or on restrictions for longer than 12 weeks and did not respond to conventional physiotherapy management.

The Functional Restoration Programme involves:

• “Bio-psycho-social” assessment. Within our assessment we address the physical (bio), personal and psychological (psycho) factors that influence recovery and return to work. We also explore the importance of the social context on behaviour and function (social).

• Each patient undergoes a thorough assessment to measure their current capacity, and map deficits against their needs for work and life.  This is called Task analysis and helps to guide treatment interventions, structures the graded return to work programme and provides a basis to the work hardening circuit.

• Work Conditioning/ Hardening programme. This aspect of the programme utilises physical conditioning and task orientated functional activities related to work. It is similar to a fitness programme but individually tailored for the patient and reflective of his/ her needs in work.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy. This part of the programme teaches psychological strategies to help address maladaptive psychological and behavioural problems. It helps patients change their attitudes and beliefs regarding pain. If there are significant psychological barriers to recovery which are beyond the scope of this problem then onward referral to Cognitive Behavioural Specialist can be recommended.

• Goal setting and return to work planning. An integral part in an individual’s rehabilitation is goal setting. We enable patients (with the aid of managers) to set goals which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-scaled  (SMART).

Delivered by Physiotherapists specially trained in Occupational Health and Ergonomics, this form of intensive rehabilitation assesses all factors which may affect an employee from returning to work and systematically addresses these matters to promote a structured and smooth return.