Understanding Work-Based Injuries in the UK

Occupational injuries are increasingly becoming more widespread than people think. From desk work to construction site work, both sectors have their unique challenges. In the United Kingdom, thousands of individuals suffer from work-based injuries every year. This accounts for everything from minor strains to musculoskeletal disorders.

Physiotherapy is effective in dealing with both physical injuries and emotional injuries. Other specialized treatments also help in addressing flat feet. Life, mental health, finances, and overall lifestyle quality often tend to deteriorate when work-based injuries take place.

What Are Work-Based Injuries?

A work-based injury includes any injury that arises from the context of one’s professional role and its surrounding environment. This manifests as slips, trips, falls, repetitive strain injuries, and other musculoskeletal complaints. These injuries are often more pronounced in physically demanding occupations like warehousing and trades. However, office workers are also not immune due to poor ergonomics coupled with insufficient support.

Common categories of work-based injuries include the following:

• Lower back pain from lifting or prolonged sitting
• Tendonitis from repetitive movement
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis, especially for workers on their feet all day
• Knee pain due to poor foot alignment  

Understanding Foot Health in Relation to Work-Based Injuries 

Work-based injuries tend to receive the most attention. However, Flat foot condition is one of the leading causes of poor foot health. In the absence of proper foot support, individuals may end up suffering from knee, hip, and back pain. There are a number of professions, such as retail, healthcare, logistics, and even construction, that experience chronic foot fatigue and other related musculoskeletal problems.

Orthotic inserts that provide arch support are made to help correct this. For flat-footed individuals, these orthotic inserts can significantly alleviate lower extremity joint and muscle stress. 

Why Custom-Made Orthotics For Flat Feet Are The Best  

The best custom orthotics for flat feet cater to the specific design and movements of the foot. Such orthotics provide greater support than those designed in bulk.

• Correcting foot posture
• Reducing joint stress
• Enhancing mobility
• Alleviating pain in the knees, hips, and lower back
• Supporting long-term injury prevention

If your occupation requires you to stand, walk, and perform repetitive tasks, custom orthotics for flat feet are likely to be beneficial. These orthotics are preventive interventions for work-related injuries as well as for future injuries.

Therapeutic Approaches to Treat Work-Based Injuries 

At Relive Physiotherapy, we emphasize the need to blend various therapies to treat symptoms and causes simultaneously. Our treatment plan for work-based injuries typically incorporates the following:

1. Manual Therapy
This includes hands-on methods aimed at stiffness reduction, improved blood flow, and pain alleviation. This is helpful in alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain due to poor posture and repetitive strain.

2. Exercise Rehabilitation
Specific stretch and strengthening exercises are aimed at function restoration and resilience building. This assists in long-term recovery and reduces re-injury potential.

3. Gait Analysis
Flat feet and associated problems can be identified through an assessment of movement patterns, which is referred to as gait analysis. It is common practice to prescribe orthotics for flat feet following realignment of the body and posture correction using gait analysis.

4. Custom Orthotic Fitting
An imbalance or structural issue with the foot will necessitate the fitting of custom orthotics. These are particularly vital for individuals who require the best orthotics for flat feet.  

5. Posture & Ergonomic Advice
For employees who operate at desks, work posture, along with workstation setup, requires the most immediate attention. Improvements in these areas can significantly help in the prevention and treatment of occupational injuries.  

Success Stories from the UK Workforce 

Most of our patients have been able to resume work after a prolonged period of dealing with occupational injuries. One warehouse employee had persistent lower back pain along with flat feet. Through therapy and the best custom orthotics for flat feet, he experienced significant improvement within a few weeks.  

A nurse suffering from heel and knee pain associated with prolonged standing during shifts is another example. Use of orthotics for flat feet, along with specific strengthening exercises, eliminated the need for surgery and allowed her to return to work comfortably.

Embarking on Your Recovery Journey

Ignoring signs of your work-based injuries or your foot’s biomechanical function can lead to more serious concerns. At Relive Physiotherapy, we provide thorough evaluations and personalized treatment strategies to address your specific needs. Our physiotherapy services include, but are not limited to, orthotic fittings for flat feet, manual therapy, and ergonomic consultations.

Conclusion

Work-based injuries present a growing concern across the UK workforce. Repetitive microtraumas and poor foot biomechanics can be detrimental not only to an individual’s health but also to their professional performance. Thankfully, recovery is achievable through rehabilitation therapy, ergonomic design modifications, and orthotic therapy. Custom-made orthotics are one of the best investments you can make in your body’s posture and prevent future injuries, especially with flat feet.

If you are experiencing work-based injury or pain, now is the time to take control of your health. Restoring comfort, mobility, and productivity requires a combination of aggressive intervention and tailored devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What causes work-based injuries?
Work-based injuries can result from repetitive movement, poor posture, heavy lifting, standing for long hours, or accidents in the workplace.

2. Are orthotics for flat feet only for people with foot pain?
No, orthotics for flat feet also help prevent pain in the knees, hips, and back by improving posture and distributing pressure evenly.

3. How are the best custom orthotics for flat feet made?
They are created after a professional assessment of your feet and gait. A mould or scan is used to design inserts specific to your foot structure and needs.

4. Can therapy prevent future work-based injuries?
Yes, therapy can improve strength, flexibility, and posture, all of which reduce the likelihood of injury.

5. Is treatment covered under workplace health schemes in the UK?
Many employers in the UK offer occupational health benefits that may include physiotherapy and orthotics. Always check your coverage with your provider.