Case Studies
Activities at home slow recovery
Unsafe home environment causes additional injury
Unsuitable duties cause a set back
New employment made suitable
New employment following job seeking
Activities at home slow recovery
Sue had bilateral shoulder injuries and had recently undergone surgery to one shoulder. She lived alone with her 2 young children. The medical certificate indicated unfit for work with restrictions included reaching to above shoulder level, heavy lifting and carrying. Her recovery was much slower than the treating medical practitioner would have expected and certificates for unfit continued.
An Occupational Therapy Activities of Daily Living Assessment was requested by the case manager. Even though she was trying to minimize the amount of cleaning and other household chores, there were many tasks that were forcing Sue to be unable to comply with her medical restrictions; carrying the load of washing to the line, hanging the washing up, reaching overhead cupboards, pushing a shopping trolley and carrying shopping bags.
The Occupational Therapist was able to provide alternative equipment and alternative methods to eliminate carrying and reaching high. Sue was also happy to try internet shopping. A cleaner was recommended for a period of 2 months to eliminate the heavy cleaning tasks.
Following this, she was able to manage independently with more ergonomic cleaning equipment.
Unsafe home environment causes additional injury | top
Jim had retuned home following a hip replacement. To shower he needed to climb into the bath. To assist his limited leg and hip strength and movement, he would lift himself up using the overhead shower curtain rail. He had slipped a few times while doing this but on one occasion fell heavily and sustained a severe lumbar disc injury. This was accepted by the claims agent as a sequela injury.
A home assessment was eventually recommended and Jim was provided with alternative showering equipment however if this had been done earlier an injury would have been prevented.
Unsuitable duties cause a set back | top
Margie, a commercial cleaner had sustained a lumbar disc prolapse. She had returned to work on a partial hours and selected duties however her back symptoms would increase toward the end of each work period. A Job Analysis was suggested by the Rehabilitation Consultant. This assessment identified that even though Margie was not vacuuming or emptying the rubbish bins (the ‘heavy’ tasks), she was bending repeatedly throughout the work hours to pick up floor rubbish and clean the toilets.
Various long handled reaching tools were provided which allowed her to carry out these tasks with a safe upright posture and less pain.
New employment made suitable | top
David was undertaking work experience with a new employer as part of his job seeking. This employer was willing to offer full-time work however David was finding that the work, though sedentary, was aggravating his low back pain. A Job Analysis identified that the workstation and chair were suitable however the amount of sitting for desk work was the cause of this exacerbation of pain. A sloped work surface for reading and writing was provided and placed on a 3-drawer filing cabinet. David than was then instructed to regularly alternate his posture by getting up for his reading and writing tasks.
This way of working eliminated the back ache, allowed him to be able to increase his work hours, be certified fit for this work and accept the job.
New employment following job seeking | top
Debbie had worked for a manufacturing company in a labouring position for 10 years when she suffered a back injury. She underwent return to work on modified duties. Debbie was considered a valuable employee by the company and was assisted to remain at work in a position involving Quality Control and some administration duties as Debbie had worked in administration for several years when she first left school.
The company was relocating; hence, it was necessary to assist Debbie to secure another job. A Rehabilitation Counsellor became involved in the case and the Rehabilitation Counsellor worked with Debbie to assist her to secure new employment in an administration position.
Debbie was assisted to do this through some brief re-training (short courses), and a period of on-the-job training with the employer that became her new employer.
Contact Costa Pericles Consultancy by telephoning (08) 8297 0501 or email
info@costapericles.com.au