As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So what do people need to keep in mind when preventing injuries? Other than the obvious like buckle my seat belt, tie my shoes, watch where I am going, we are challenged today with life-style syndromes. These can lead to the tops killers like heart disease, stroke, depression, cancer, & diabetes. And the more illnesses we have, the more likely we will be physically injured. These problems are culture related, created by the world we live in, the time we live in, & the complexities of today. Remember, people are always aging and there is a large flux of older adults staying in the workforce who have to work harder to stay healthy. So, passing along the knowledge to influence healthy beliefs can lead to happier, healthier living.

What needs to be considered?

There are essential elements to focus on when taking care of the body for day-in day-out routines. My PT recommends avoiding situations that drain personal resources like time, money, & energy. Maximizing efficiency & minimizing the energy draws from daily activities will keep the body in better shape. This will create extra time that can be used for other items on the never ending “To Do” list, extra energy for healing, as well as extra money saved from going to a medical provider when something is “broken”.

We must not forget that the effects of what we put inside our bodies is just as important as the effects the body faces from the outside world. Here are highlighted concepts My PT recommends to prevent injuries:

  • Fitting the Job to the Person
  • Maintaining Job Task Competencies
  • Pacing
  • Micro-Breaks
  • Stretch & Flex routines
  • Take One-Step
  • Squaring-Up
  • Limiting-Reach
  • Working the Power-Zone
  • Active Posture
  • Core Education
  • Body Hygiene, Hydration & Nutrition

increased quality and efficiency

 

Employer Sponsored Injury Prevention Program Elements

  • Movement testing
  • Injury screening
  • Ergonomics & injury prevention presentations 
  • Customized training
  • On-Site Physical Therapy
  • Workstation assessment & recommendations
  • Job description review
  • Field observation & demonstration
  • Review personal protective equipment (PPE) standards
  • Review OSHA 300A forms, first aid logs, medical risk management
  • Periodic follow ups
  • Creating goals & tracking metrics