Case study: *Anna, Queensland
Recovery Partners provided: Occupational Rehabilitation
Back pain can be difficult for sufferers to manage and equally difficult for health professionals to treat. That’s why Scott Langham (MClin ExP, HBEM), an Exercise Physiologist and Rehabilitation Consultant with Recovery Partners, was so pleased when he was able to facilitate fast relief for a worker who’d been dealing with back pain since 2012.
*Anna, who worked in night fill for a major Brisbane supermarket, had become resigned to living with her back pain, though it had a significant impact on her daily life. ‘There was no particular trauma or injury that precipitated the pain,’ says Scott, ‘so it was more likely a condition that had built up over time, an adaptive dysfunction.’
Anna had submitted claims for workers’ compensation and underwent several treatment courses with allied health professionals over the years, with little success in addressing her pain. The insurer for the supermarket chain that Anna worked for had seen a Recovery Partners presentation about our innovative approach to muscular-skeletal pain management and was happy for Scott to assess Anna’s condition from this perspective.
‘It’s essential that we assess everyone as individuals, and not try and apply a cookie-cutter technique to their treatment,’ says Scott. ‘When I first met with Anna, she rated her pain as an 8 out of 10. In a critical assessment, I identified that she had a pelvic misalignment, a right pelvic upslip, to be precise. Poor posture and poor muscle activation contributed to the pain.’
Scott devised a treatment plan based on a muscle energy technique that included a series of corrective exercises for Anna to complete in her own time. After their session together, Anna contacted Scott to say she’d had a pain-free period of time that lasted between 24 and 48 hours. This was the first time she’d been without pain since 2012. ‘Anna’s 8 out of 10 pain rating became a 0 out of 10,’ Scott says. ‘She was over the moon!’ While it’s important not to become complacent, Scott says they were encouraging results for all parties involved. He credits his own professional development by helping him make an assessment, saying that listening to podcasts and reading lots of new research helps him stay up-to-date and informed in his professional practice. ‘It’s not done and dusted yet, but I’m happy I was able to help give Anna that time without pain, and I’m looking forward to working with her and her employers more to address the underlying issues and formulate a plan for ongoing treatment.’
Congratulations on those encouraging results, Scott, and your commitment to your professional standards and customer service delivery!
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*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned
Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/