Keeping Employees Active And Restoring Peak Performance After Injuries
HR professionals understand that the health of their employees directly affects the health of their business. Organizations seek new ways to
ensure the continuing good health of their workforce. Here are suggestions on increasing the level of physical activity among employees, along with information about restoring employees to peak performance after injury.
Q. Physical activity is a foundation of good health. How can employers encourage employees to be more active?
A. Employers can develop wellness programs and provide incentives to encourage physical activity. Offering discounted gym memberships at local fitness centers can motivate employees to incorporate increased activity into their lifestyles. Depending on their location, organizations could offer incentives for “active” commuting to encourage biking or walking to work. Organizing lunchtime walking groups gives colleagues a chance to socialize and remain active during the workday. Walk-and-talk or standing meetings are a healthy alternative to sitting for hours in a conference room.
Q. Active people, especially “weekend warriors,” may suffer injuries that impact their ability to perform their job or participate in sports. Where can employees go for an injury evaluation and treatment?
A. Depending on the type and severity of injury, consulting with a primary care provider (PCP) is a logical first step. The PCP can either treat the person or refer him/her to an orthopedic specialist, a sports medicine physician or a physical or occupational therapist. Advocate Aurora Health’s orthopedic, sports medicine and occupational medicine specialists all work together to produce best-in-class results for injured people.
While orthopedic and sports medicine specialties may share some similarities, they are two distinct subfields of medicine. Here is a brief description of these specialities.
Orthopedic surgeons
Orthopedic surgeons are trained in operative and non-operative treatments of the entire musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues). Some orthopedists are generalists, while others specialize in certain areas of the body, such as hip and knee, shoulder, or foot and ankle.
Sports medicine physicians
A sports medicine physician helps injured athletes (and anyone else who uses their body for physical work) to resume their usual activities and optimize their body movements. Sports medicine takes a holistic approach to improving physical performance. The goal is to get people back into action — whether for work or play — as quickly and as safely as possible.
Generally speaking, sports medicine physicians specialize in non-operative treatments of musculoskeletal conditions. They may also address concerns beyond the realm of the musculoskeletal system. This includes offering advice and training on diet and exercise and how to prevent new injuries.
Q. What role can HR play in reducing work-related injuries?
A. Hiring the right person for the right job is key. Workplace accidents and injuries are often caused by insufficient training or an employee’s inability to perform a job’s physical requirements. Carefully screening applicants before hiring is an important safeguard. Pre-placement Functional Tests (PPFTs) help match a job applicant to the physical demands of a job. Employers are encouraged to place employees in positions that match their capabilities, but don’t exceed their physical limitations.
Q. What are the true costs of work-related injuries?
A. Work-related injuries results in direct costs (such as increased Workers’ Compensation premiums and medical expenses), but also in indirect costs associated with lost workdays, decreased productivity, the need to retrain replacement employees and lower employee morale. The best way to minimize these costs is to avoid injury in the first place.
Q. What else can HR do in this regard?
A. Unfortunately, accidents and injury do occur. Employees may get injured at work or elsewhere. When evaluating health benefit plans, HR professionals can make sure their company’s health insurance coverage helps employees receive the expert-level injury care they need. With early intervention and evidence-based treatments, employees can get back to work — and play— with faster, fuller recoveries.
Making a comprehensive investment in employee health and wellness will produce tangible benefits for employers, as well as promoting active and healthy lifestyles for their employees. Advocate Aurora Employer Solutions offers a wide range of customizable employee health programs and solutions to help you and your employees live well and work well.
Philip Skiba, DO, is a sports medicine physician at Advocate Aurora Health.
**************************************************************************************************
To access free downloadable and sharable healthy weight resources for your organization and employees visit go-employersolutions.aah.org/weight-management-resources. Resources include recorded webinars and how-to-get-started educational toolkits on nutrition, physical activity, behavioral therapy, weight loss medication and bariatric surgery. Additionally, you can request to schedule an appointment with one of our expert team members to discuss how we can implement and customize healthy weight services for your organization. Together, we can help your employees live well and work well.
This post is locked to comments.
