The physiotherapist's role in the management of stress-related work absence in vocational rehabilitation

Introduction[edit | edit source]

There is a strong link between stress and sickness absence. Mental health conditions are increasingly prevalent and stress in the workplace is becoming more common. Work-related stress is estimated to be the biggest occupational health problem in the UK, after musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. Since 1995 the number of days lost to stress has more than doubled. This work absence is a major concern for both organisations and individuals and requires urgency in addressing it[1][2].

Stress[edit | edit source]

There are numerous definitions of stress but no set established medical definition[3]. However, according to the Health and Safety Executive[4] stress is the negative response an individual exhibits when excessive pressure or demands are placed on them. Additionally, MIND[5] define stress as a response to being put under pressure or situations that place an individual under pressure that if left unaddressed can result in psychological, physiological and behavioural changes to an individual.

Stress can be divided into two categories: Distress and Eustress. Distress is the negative response to stressors whereas eustress is the positive response to stressors. When an individual is distressed they experience negative psychological states such as frustration, low satisfaction and alienation that eventually result in work and social loss as well as negatively effects on their physical and mental well-being. Conversely, not all stress is bad for you. For instance when an individual experiences eustress they have positive psychological states such as meaningfulness, motivation, enthusiasm and participation that result in positive implications for both the individual's well-being and performance. In additon to this, stress can also have a positive effect on individuals when experienced in short intervals. Short-term exposure to stress has been found to boost the immune system, however, it is still important to be aware that long-term or chronic stress has an adverse effect on the immune system that eventually results in illness. Therefore, the important feature linked to stress is its chronic effect over time[6][7].

Predisposition to stress varies among individuals. An event that causes illness in one individual may not cause illness in another. Events are influenced by a number of background factors that lead to the manifestation of illness. Genetic vulnerability, coping style, type of personality and social support may all influence an individual’s susceptibility to stress. When faced with a problem, an individual assesses how serious the issue is and determines whether they have the necessary resources required to deal with the it. If the seriousness of the problem outweighs the present resources, an individual may perceive themselves as being under stress. However, if the resources match or outweigh the problem an individual copes much better with the problem. It is this response system to situations that results in the differences in individual’s susceptibility to illness and overall well-being[7]

Stress can be caused through various things happening in your life. It can result by either external factors in the environment or internal factors to the individual. Stress can also result as a consequence of real or perceived psychosocial pressures. Being under pressure, having too much or too little control over something or even worrying can trigger stress. Stressors are things that cause stress. Chronic stressors encountered in everyday life include work overload, financial difficulties or family problems. There are many other things that can cause stress but the aforementioned stressors are the ones most commonly encountered in everyday life. Although these stressors may occur independent from one another, most times they are interrelate. For instance, financial problems may have negative implications for both the individual and family. Additionally, research on the relationship between family problems and work have found that problems at home such as marital issues affect an individual's ability to perform adequately at work, conversely, pressure at work can affect an individual’s ability to function socially at home. Hence, even though a problem may be caused by work, family or finances, they may still have an overall impact in other areas of life and vice versa. Having said this, it has been reported by employees that the single most stressful factor in their lives above finances and relationships was work[5][7][8].

Work Related Stress

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Among the leading contributors to disease and disability burden globally are mental health problems, making 10.5% of the worldwide disease burden. In the United Kingdom, mental health problems are the single largest source of disability, accounting for 23% of total disease burdens[9].

About 1 in 4 British adults experiencing at least one mental disorder in any one year[10].

Women are more likely to be treated for mental health conditions than men, with 29% of women affected compared with 17% men[10]

Common mental health problems peak in middle age with 20-25% of people in the age group 45-54 years having a neurotic disorder. The figures fall as people grow older, with only 9.4% of people aged 70-74 years having a neurotic disorder compared with 16.4% of the general population[10] (Figure 2). 

Figure 2 - Neurotic Disorders











1 in 3 British adults in the working age population will experience some kind of mental health problem. Of this, 1 in 6 people in the working age population will experience depression, anxiety or problems related to stress[10].

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In 2013 the Labour Force Survey found that 73 million days were lost due to absence either as a result of sickness or injury. Mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, musculoskeletal disorders and minor illnesses contributed to this number with 15 million, 31 million and 27 million, respectively[10].

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development[11] annual absent report:

  • The main causes of short term absence (≤ 4 weeks) were minor illness, musculoskeletal disorders and stress. Musculoskeletal disorders are more prevalent in manual workers and stress is more prevalent in non-manual works (Figure 3).
  • The main causes of long term absence (≥ 4 weeks) were acute medical conditions, stress, mental ill health and musculoskeletal disorders (Figure 4).
  • The median annual absence cost per employee across all organisations was £554. This cost varied in the different individual organizations, ranging from between £400 - £914, with the highest costs being in the public services.
Figure 3 - Causes of Short Term Absences
Figure 3 - Causes of Short Term Absences







According to the Office of National Statistics[12] in 2013/14: 

  • The total number of cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety was 487000 cases (39%) out of a total of 1241000 cases for all work-related illnesses.
  • There was an estimated prevalence of 221000 male and 266000 female cases of work-related stress and an estimated incidence of 115000 male and 128000 female cases.
  • The total number of working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety was 11.3 million, an average of 23 days per case of stress, depression or anxiety.
  • Of the 11.3 million lost days, male workers accounted for approximately 5.4 million of those days while female worker accounted for approximately 5.9 million days
  • The age 45-54 years had the highest incidence rate for all genders


The summary of findings from both mental health and stress[12] statistics are that:

  • The age group most affected is 45-54 years old.
  • Women are more affected than men.
  • The prevalence of stress higher in non-manual workers than in manual workers.

Impact[edit | edit source]

Although there is a collective opinion that mental health problems are caused by work, the relationship between the two is complex. While there is strong evidence that work is good for both mental and physical health, there is also evidence that mental well-being can be adversely affected by work.

Work-related stress may occur when individuals are faced with work demands or pressures they cannot cope with or have very little control over. Job stress is one of the top 10 work-related health problems and has increasingly been associated with the occurrence of mental health problems, cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disorder[3][13].

It is believed that the pathogenesis of physical disease is influenced by stress. Stress results in the production of adverse affective states which have a direct impact on the biological processes and behavioural patterns that predispose an individual to the risk of disease.

Stress can elicit the same responses that the body would produce if it were in physical danger. The body goes into ‘flight or fight’ mode, triggering the stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol which in turn cause accelerated breathing, increased heart rate and dilation of blood vessels leading to increased blood pressure. In small amounts these responses are not harmful however when exposed to them for prolonged periods degenerative changes can occur within the body. Prolonged exposure to increased heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones consequently lead to hypertension, arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, or stroke[14]. Furthermore, adrenaline can cause muscles to automatically contract and tense up in a biological response to stress as a means to protect the body from further harm. Prolonged exposure to muscle tension and muscle overuse causes the muscles to fatigue, tighten or degenerate, consequently increasing the risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders[15].

Stress can cause psychological changes that result in numerous adverse effects on an individual such as reduced competency, diminished initiative, loss of accountability and reduced concern for both work colleagues and the organisation as a whole. Additionally stress alters an individual’s physical state. The changes that occur in muscular structures can cause pain and discomfort resulting in an individual finding it difficult to sit at an office desk for the whole day or concentrate on work tasks due to lack of comfort. If stress is not managed immediately the physical and psychological effects of it that consequently lead to mental and physical changes can stop an individual from working at optimum capacity[16] (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Effects of Stress on a Individual

The conservation of an individual’s physical and mental health depends on their ability to adequately satisfy the demands they are confronted with. The greater an individual’s ability and control are over the exposed demands, the more effective the response produced will be. Conversely, when an individual is exposed to demands found to predominate their current knowledge and abilities they exhibit reduced capacity to work and perform their job adequately causing them to produce responses that are not effective[17].

A major contributor to an organisation's profit and its existence is the amount of productivity delivered by employees. It is well established that excessive stress is detrimental to both an individual’s mental and physical well-being as well as productivity. With knowledge of this it can be recognised that stress is therefore a serious concern for organisations. Mental and physical changes can significantly influence an individual’s ability to work effectively which as a consequence can lead to increased absentee rates, increased turnover, sickness absence and work-related accidents. All of these negatively impact on an organisation by decreasing its probability of success in competitive markets through reductions in overall productivity and service quality, as well as increased expenditure on recruitment and selection costs as a result of turnover effects[16][18]. Additionally, these factors cost the national economy an astounding amount of money annually through sickness absence which results in sick pay, staff turnover and loss of productivity. Furthermore, social welfare systems endure the costs of medical care and potential compensations in salary[19][20].

The problem of stress is clearly serious and urgent action is required to address it. Although there is a common view that mental health problems and stress are caused by work, the relationship between the two is complex. While mental well-being can be affected adversely by work there is also strong evidence that work is good for both mental and physical health. Work has been found to provide individuals with social status, social support, participation, a way to positively occupy time and personal achievement. All of which are at risk of being reduced or removed once an individual is out of work[21][3]. In addition to this, it has also been found that poorer physical and mental health have been linked to worklessness. From the evidence it can be concluded that work can be therapeutic in that it can transpose the negative health effects of being out of work. Hence, through work targeted interventions like vocational rehabilitation, which aims to restore functional capacity for work, and physiotherapy, which also aims to restore functional ability as well as enhance an individual's well-being, individuals with health problems are helped to return to work. Although there is little to no evidence on the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation interventions for stress management there is a strong association between work and good mental health and it is through this link vocational rehabilitation for stress management can be established[22].

Vocational Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]

The government policy ‘What Works, For Whom and When’[22] describes vocational rehabilitation as helping people with health problems stay at, return to and remain in work and this is unanimously the widespread definition. The Vocational Rehabilitation Association[23] describes vocational rehab as any process which supports people with functional, physical, psychological, developmental, cognitive or emotional impairments to overcome obstacles to accessing, maintaining, or returning to work or another useful occupation. Vocational rehabilitation can be described as an idea or an approach, as much as it can an intervention[24].

An effective vocational rehabilitation service should adopt a multidisciplinary approach, involving both healthcare professionals and employers. Vocational rehabilitation can also be practiced in a variety of settings, where effective communication between everyone involved should be at the forefront of practice[22]. Primary healthcare settings can have a positive effect on occupational outcomes, either helping people with mild to moderate conditions return to work promptly or continue to offer treatment, education and help devise a return to work plan for a person who requires further assistance. Workplace interventions can also be highly beneficial. Many organisations have developed sickness absence and disability management programmes which efficiently cuts costs and enables return to work or the possibility of adapted working. More structured vocational rehabilitation programmes can also be followed for those with more severe cases. Vocational rehabilitation programmes can help to improve work outcomes for those in the early stages of claiming incapacity benefits. Incapacity benefit comes after a period of statutory sick pay and generally does not start until week 29 of sickness absence. However, many people are not employed at the time they start receiving benefits and they can often be faced with many barriers when trying to return to work. A person is likely to remain on benefits long term once they have been claiming for 1-2 years, meaning it is vital for vocational rehabilitation to play a part early on[22].

For many people these days, work is their key determinant of self worth, family income and esteem, as well as identity within the community and social fulfilment[25]. Carol Black’s ‘Working for a healthier tomorrow’[25] review looking at the health of our working population suggests that the average UK employee is absent from work due to sickness for six days each year. Although these figures vary between workplaces, it is thought that these absences equate to an annual cost of around £598 per employer. Therefore, the estimated cost to the UK economy as a result of employee absence is around £100 billion annually- which is greater than the NHS annual budget[26].

Healthcare understandably plays a vital role in Vocational rehabilitation, but ultimately, it is not effective without working closely alongside employers[22]. There is strong supporting evidence that a proactive workplace approach to sickness and modified working is not only most effective but is also an effective cost saving method for the company, especially in larger enterprises.

Employers can have a key role in facilitating an employee’s early return to work following a sickness absence by having early, regular and sensitive contact during their leave, although around 40% or organisations have no sick leave management policy at all[25]. This report also discusses the stigmas associated with absence from work due to disability and ill health, and states how this can also be a contributing factor in delaying a person's return to work. This is especially apparent in employees suffering from mental health conditions as organisations often fail to recognise their capabilities. There is significant evidence to suggest that the longer a person is absent from work due to ill health, the harder it is for them to make an effective return. A graded return to work plan can often be adopted by effective negotiation and communication between employers, employees and healthcare professionals. The graded return to work may aim to increase the hours and days worked whilst increasing the complexity of tasks and expectations in the workplace until the employee can safely continue with their previous duties over a period of time[27].

Although employment rates for those suffering from a disability or long term health condition are increasing, with employment rates in Britain being high when compared to most countries, 7% of the working population are still seeking incapacity benefits, while another 3% are off work sick at one given time[25].

Below is an NHS video on vocational rehabilitation.

Vocational Rehabilitation Guidelines[edit | edit source]

NICE Clinical Guideline 19[26] provides a guideline on workplace health in long-term sickness absence and incapacity to work.

NICE recognized that employment enhances an individual’s health and wellbeing, conversely, it can also negatively impact on it with both employers and employees playing a part in an individual’s work absence. Hence this guideline was developed to help employers, employees, NHS professionals and other health professionals manage long term absence and incapacity.

The interventions recommended in this guideline aim to:

  • Decrease or prevent short-term sickness absence from becoming long-term
  • Aid employees currently on long-term sickness absence return to work
  • Decrease the number of recurring long-term sickness absences
  • Aid unemployed individuals or recipients of incapacity benefits return to work

For the purpose of this Wiki, as it is concentrating on management rather than assessment, recommendation 3 which is based on interventions and services is most appropriate. This recommendation is intended for employees experiencing long-term sickness absence or recurring short- or long-term sickness absence, particularly those with musculoskeletal disorders or mental health problems and it recommends:

  • Coordinated and supported delivery of health, occupational or rehabilitation interventions/services
  • Arrangement for referrals to appropriate specialists or services including occupational health adviser,another professional specialising in occupational health, health and safety, rehabilitation, ergonomics or a physiotherapist.
  • Encouraging employees to contact occupational health service for any further advice and support required
  • Offering individuals with poor return to work prognosis one or more of the following ‘intensive’ interventions:
    • referral to physiotherapy services or vocational rehabilitation
    • counselling about a return to work
    • workplace modifications
  • Offering individuals with good return to work prognosis short sessions of one or more of the following interventions:
    • referral to a physiotherapist
    • referral to psychological services

To read more on all 4 recommendations for assessment and management click this image.

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Realising Work Potential: Defining the Contribution of Allied Health Professionals to Vocational Rehabilitation in Mental Health Services: The Way Forward[28]. You can access this document by clicking the image below.

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Engaging in work and productive occupation has a positive influence on an individual's mental well-being. Hence, keeping people in work is a priority for the Scottish government and in 2010 they released the document ‘Realising Potential - An Action Plan for Allied Health Professionals in Mental Health’ which established a direct link between mental health and rehabilitation policy frameworks to get people back to work. They also identified early intervention as being key to this recovery.

This report is a follow up of Realising Potential and fulfils the pledge made by the Scottish government in realising potential to review current vocational rehabilitation models employed by Allied Healthcare Professionals in meeting the vocational needs of people with mental health problems and the provision of vocational rehabilitation across the 5 levels of healthcare.

This report identified the physiotherapists role in meeting the vocational needs of people with mental health problems as one that involves:

  • Assessing patients for appropriate walking aid and providing exercise programmes to improve confidence in regards to mobility issues for patients wishing to engage in volunteer role.
  • Joint working with occupational therapist in a community rehabilitation unit to improve fitness and promote weight loss in order to increase work tolerance.
  • Telephone based advice for occupational therapist supporting patients with heart disease to develop appropriate exercise routine to return patient to vocational role.

The report found that the best vocational rehabilitation model used by Allied Health Professionals is the Evidence Based Supported Employment and that the vocational rehabilitation service provision across the five levels of healthcare was mainly being provided in secondary and specialist mental health services. They suggested that Allied Healthcare Professionals should try reach those patients outside this level 3-4 spectrum to the ones that require earlier intervention.

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From the findings of the reviewed vocational rehabilitation models and service provisions, 6 key principles were identified to help guide the development of AHP vocational rehabilitation service provisions and action points to help achieve these principles.

Challenges to Vocational Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]

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Vocational rehabilitation enables patients with various health conditions to overcome barriers to accessing, sustaining or returning to employment or other meaningful occupation[29].

Early intervention is key in vocational rehabilitation. The longer the patient is off work, the harder it becomes for them to return to work, making vocational rehabilitation more difficult[22].

Vocational rehabilitation has tended to be a specialist focus in physiotherapy, but not everyone will see a specialist in the early stages of disease/injury[30].

Common barriers to vocational rehabilitation are:

  • Access to medical treatment due to NHS waiting lists
  • Economic factors - generous occupational sick pay or disability benefits
  • Lack of top-level organisational commitment
  • Cost of workplace modifications and availability of suitable alternative duties, particularly for smaller firms
  • Poor communication and common purpose among key stakeholders
  • Lack of co-ordinated approach among rehabilitation providers[31] 

There is a gap between research and practice in vocational rehabilitation. Evidence based practice is widely used in healthcare settings, however it is a fairly new concept in vocational rehabilitation. Many vocational rehabilitation practitioners report that they face barriers such as inadequate time and limited access to technology and research. A large caseload size was also reported to affect the implementation of evidence based practice in vocational rehabilitation[32].

Vocational rehabilitation is a complex intervention and being able to implement it involves analysing the training and support used to transfer knowledge and put evidence into practice. Other barriers to implementing evidence based interventions in vocational rehabilitation are issues such as:

  • Management opposition
  • Lack of resources such as money and time
  • Lack of in-house skill
  • Lack of policy support and networks with other organisations to support a new initiative.

Other barriers lie with the healthcare professional themselves, including a lack of confidence, lack of knowledge, lack of desire for change and their own personal beliefs and the beliefs of others such as line managers[33].

Thoughts, Behaviours and Feelings

While healthcare has a key role in vocational rehabilitation, it is not a matter for health care alone. There is strong evidence to show that proactive company approaches are effective and cost effective. Vocational rehabilitation depends on work-focused healthcare and accommodating employers. Both are necessary to make a real and lasting difference[22]. If employers are not accommodating to vocational rehabilitation it can cause a barrier to the healthcare professional providing effective vocational rehabilitation to the patient. It can be difficult to provide the best vocational rehabilitation if the employers are not working with the healthcare professionals to provide the patient with the optimum conditions to return to or stay at work, such as flexible working hours, phased return or modifying the patient's tasks until they can return to their full normal responsibilities and duties.

Unemployment progressively damages health and results in more sickness, disability, mental illness, obesity and decreased life expectancy. Due to significant personal, attitudinal and structural barriers, people with mental health conditions are less likely to be engaged in work roles than those with other health conditions and 85% are unemployed[34].

Another barrier could be the government support to returning to or remaining in work. Currently, most people with mental health problems are put in government run back-to-work schemes[5]. MIND[5] state that people with mental health problems should be offered a new vocational rehabilitation approach to returning to work that focuses on person-centred, specialist support that understands the patient and the challenges they face. They report that the current government schemes are actually making people more unwell and less likely to find work. They surveyed 439 people who were receiving support because of their mental health condition. 83% of the people surveyed reported that using back-to-work services through the Work Programme and/or Jobcentre Plus had made their mental health worse or much worse and lowered their self-esteem and confidence. 76% said that they felt less able to work as a result of being on these schemes. MIND[5] are currently campaigning on this issue. Vocational rehabilitation working with healthcare professionals that have a comprehensive understanding of mental health and strategies to help people with mental health conditions to return to work would be more beneficial and avoid this barrier.

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In order to successfully implement vocational rehabilitation, the physiotherapist needs to consider environmental and social factors and understand the patient's perspective on returning to work. These factors can be factors that are outside the individual’s control, individual factors and employer-related factors[31].
Factors that are outside the individual’s control include societal beliefs and attitudes, labour market, housing, transport, family and level of support, legal process, government policies and benefits.
Individual factors include self-confidence, self-esteem, motivation, illness beliefs and attitudes, education, literacy, social skills, gender and co-morbidities.
Employer-related factors are things such as sector, size, absence-management policies, culture and physical environment[31].

There is a lack of statutory basis for ensuring the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services in the UK, which has contributed to a situation where service provision is not always based on the individual’s needs but on random matters such as the employment status of the individual, the type of benefit they receive, the priorities and resources of the NHS trusts, the circumstances of the injury, employer insurance cover and resources and also the position of the insurer towards funding VR[31].

Vocational rehabilitation service providers must understand the motivation of the patient while also maintaining their responsibilities towards the patient, employer, employer’s customers and their own professional standards.
The vocational rehabilitation service provider needs to recognise the patient’s perspective. Any fears they may have, such as future financial security or a fear of failure may, may be justified or subconsciously affecting their judgement[31].

It is a good idea to keep a record of intervention and a barriers checklist is a good way of identifying issues and the steps taken to resolve them.

Barriers to Vocational Rehabilitation Checklist[31]
Clinical Yes/No Comments Response
Still receiving treatment


Operation impending


Negative impact of medication


Functional capactity not defined


Possible behavioural/interpersonal issues


Poor insight into limitations


Fatigue


Pain issues not resolved


Demographic/Social Yes/No Comment Response
Age


Lack of family support


Marital issues


Lack of incentive to work


Lack of confidence


Lack of child-care arrangements


Presentation


Transport


Court conviction


Financial Yes/No Comments Response
PI litigation


Level of benefits income


Wages being offered


Risk of return to work upsetting steady income


Potential retirement with financial gain


Cost of looking for work


Skill Related Yes/No Comments Response
Overqualified


Under-qualified


Lack of IT skills


Language barrier


Lack of other skills


Lack of specific training


Limited organisational skills


Limited communication skills


Patchy work history


Capacity to learn and retain new skills


Job Search Related Yes/No Comments Response
Limited job search experience


Lack of CV


Interview skills


Lack of references


Lack of jobs in the field


No job goal


Other Yes/No Comments Response
Does not function well independently


Requires aids/adaptations


Believes they are unemployable


Does not wish to retrain


Transport problems


Possible alcohol/drug dependency


Cultural issues


Some frequent issues heard by vocational rehabilitation counsellors are:

  1. Why should I work in a job that is going nowhere and doing nothing except frustrate me and cause stress?
  2. Why should I take a low paid job when I can get as much money in benefits?

People with mental health conditions are especially sensitive to the negative effects of unemployment and the loss of structure, identity and purpose it provides.
Work is important in maintaining and promoting mental health. It also reduces the need to use health services as it provides a social identity and status, social contacts and supports, a way of occupying and structuring time and a sense of achievement[31].

A barrier flag system has been developed to enable health care professionals to identify potential barriers to returning to or remaining at work[31].

Barrier Flag Potential Barrier
Red flags Medical barriers
Orange flags Mental health barriers
Yellow flags Psychosocial factors
Blue flags Health beliefs within the work place
Black flags Financial barriers
Chequered flags Social barriers

Blue flags are the workplace barriers to recovery. They are often accounted for by the psychosocial interactions between the employee and their workplace managers, supervisors and colleagues. Blue flags may be the most difficult flags for physiotherapists to address due to a lack of familiarity with the workplace the patient is in. As physiotherapists, our first principle must be to do no harm to the patient. Appropriate strategies should include commenting with caution. For example, a problem may be attributed to "workplace stress" but this is not a medical term and can imply all sorts of conditions. It is possible for physiotherapists to indirectly refer to workplace difficulties by suggesting workplace support, preparing the patient for returning to work by encouraging contact with their workplace and careful use of the term "light duties". In the workplace, there is often confusion about what this term means which can result in frustration as to what the patient can and cannot do. This needs to be stated clearly[31].

Physiotherapists working in a vocational rehabilitation setting are in a better position to implement return to work strategies, have a better knowledge of how to communicate with employers and more experience in this field. However, this does not mean that physiotherapists in other settings should not approach the idea of vocational rehabilitation with the patient.

The CSP[35] Code of Conduct and the HCPC Standards of Proficiency[36] state that Physiotherapists must maintain patient confidentiality. This means that to advise the employer about the employee’s ability to work, the physiotherapist must have the employees consent to do so. While the physiotherapist cannot divulge information about the employee’s condition, they can let the employer know what the employee is able to do with regards to their job role. The difficulty in this situation would be if the employee did not give consent for the physiotherapist to communicate with the employer. This would make providing vocational rehabilitation difficult as the physiotherapist would be unable to involve the employer in the rehabilitation process.

Barriers to Employment[edit | edit source]

With most conditions there is a relationship between the severity of the injury or impairment and related barriers to employment.
For people with physical injuries, impairments or disabilities environmental barriers to employment can be an issue, such as access to public or private transport and buildings.
People with progressive conditions can face increasing problems in participating in the physical aspects of their work.
Social factors affect those with mental health problems and physical disabilities[31].

The emphasis on the medical condition of claimants is a regularly occurring issue in policy approaches towards VR. Typical barriers to returning to work are:

  • Nature of injury or health condition and its impact on usual work
  • Lack of support from managers and colleagues
  • Psychological barriers such as fear of re-injury through work activities, loss of confidence and lack of motivation
  • Work pressures such as a fear of not being able to undertake ‘light duties’
  • Lack of suitable adjustments, both physical and to duties/hours of work
  • Lack of appropriate advice/treatment/rehabilitation programme
  • Management belief that the worker should be 100% fit before returning to work.
  • Financial and legal concerns
  • Fear of returning to the place where an accident occurred/caused stress
  • Fear of ability to cope with the pre-injury/accident/illness job[31].

Vocational rehabilitation users without employment may face the additional issues of restricted labour market opportunities, redundant skills, a lack of a financial incentive, age and disability discrimination, lack of references and transport[31].

Barriers to Returning to Work In Stress[edit | edit source]

Almost 50% of long-term absences from work are the result of mental health issues[37].

There are many potential barriers for people suffering with stress may face when remaining at or returning to work. These barriers include a fear that colleagues may find out about the diagnosis and have possible negative reactions, a loss of connection with co-workers, a perceived or actual lack of support from employers and managers, uncertainty about the level or type of support available, the stigma associated with mental health conditions and concerns that work-related contributors to stress have not been addressed[38]. Common concerns include facing discrimination or bullying and returning to work too soon and feeling unwell again[37]. Some people fear returning to work because that is the place where their mental health conditions started, for various reasons such as unsupportive or bullying management or team members. Heads Up[38] suggested some practical strategies to address these barriers, such as educating and providing mental health awareness training for managers and staff.

Below is a See Me Scotland video about mental health in the workplace.


While work can cause stress for some people in some situations, research shows that work is beneficial to health and well-being, not being in work is detrimental to health and well-being and re-employment after a time period of being unemployed leads to an improvement in health and well-being. Being employed can give the patient a greater sense of identity, an opportunity to meet new people and build new relationships, improve their financial situation and security and help them feel like they are playing an active part in society[37].

Barriers to Physiotherapy in Stress[edit | edit source]

There can be communication barriers when working with people suffering from stress. The patient’s communication style may change when they are suffering from stress. They may struggle to find the ‘right’ word or they may swear more than usual. They may also become impatient and intolerant which can cause communication difficulties[39].

Stress can cause sleeping problems, difficulty concentrating, low self-esteem, headaches, muscle tension or pain[40], all of which can be a barrier to physiotherapy and affect the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatment for different conditions.

Role of the Physiotherapist In Vocational Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]

Gobelet[41] demonstrates that vocational rehabilitation uses a multidisciplinary (MDT) approach consisting primarily of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and work counsellors. Other professions may be involved depending on the individual needs of the patient. There is strong evidence to support the need for an MDT approach, especially within the workplace and out in the community[41]. However with many different inputs and perspectives of treatment, from varying disciplines, conflicts may arise[42]. To help ensure that the service can be run effectively and efficiently Reneman[43] demonstrates 3 main principles required for successful vocational rehabilitation:

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Ensuring there is a case manager who can be central to the treatment programme and can liaise with all MDT staff should allow for better within-health care communication and extending into the workplace. There is strong evidence to suggest that communication between professions is essential in creating an effective vocational rehabilitation programme as there is not one single profession that can deliver the service effectively. There is strong evidence to suggest that communication during this process needs to be improved[44][45][46][47].

Focusing on a rehabilitation approach which gradually returns the patient to activities and work in a planned and structured way is advised. This means of treatment, allows for potentially necessary progressive physical healing to occur as well as preparing the patient to mentally return to work.

This section will now look more specifically into the role that the physiotherapist plays in the returning to work of patients through vocational rehabilitation. We must be careful to outline that there is caution when stating ‘treating though vocational rehabilitation’, as vocational rehabilitation is more thought of as a connection linked to curing the initial issue, which has led to a person requiring occupation related assistance[31].

Physiotherapists play an important role in the rehabilitation of these patients. As reported by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy[48] their aims are to get patients back to their best possible level of function and wellbeing including matching, and increasing their normal activities of daily living which may include activities in the home, for leisure or for work.

Conditions Treated[edit | edit source]

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One of the most common conditions which a vocational rehabilitation physiotherapist comes across are musculoskeletal injuries[31]. These physical injuries can come in many forms, from lower back pain, fractures and soft tissue injuries. For an in-depth insight into information surrounding lower back pain please use the following link here For musculoskeletal conditions it is recommended that physiotherapists should have an active role in workplace interventions, these interventions should promote health and wellbeing within the workplace in order to encourage normal function[43].

Stress.jpg

Stroke is another condition commonly treated by physiotherapists. As highlighted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, physiotherapists are essential for stroke rehabilitation[49]

Patients suffering from stroke account for just 0.7% of patient cases seen for vocational rehabilitation rehabilitation[31], however there are currently 27,500 people each year in England who are of working age, who suffer from strokes[50]. This complex and individualised neurological condition results in many difficult factors which affect a patient’s ability to return to work. Primarily, mobility issues, cognitive impairment and reduced hand function. Currently the provision for vocational rehabilitation services within this population is low with lack of suitable and appropriately timed care pathways, training to practitioners and integrated health-employer partnerships. Early intervention has been noted as vital and should be coupled with continual support throughout the whole rehabilitation process[50].

Research has been undertaken in relation to the effect of vocational rehabilitation in terms of dealing with patients after an acquired brain injury. A study in 2015 highlighted how only 40% of people are able to return to paid work within 2 years. It emphasised the importance of a specific protocol called Early Vocational Rehabilitation (Evocational Rehabilitation) which is designed to guide an effective multidisciplinary approach of vocational rehabilitation[51].

The vocational rehabilitation protocol comprises of the following stages: 

Orientation2.png

Mental health is another condition that has been regarded as having the highest prevalence within vocational rehabilitation. At 35%, which includes patients with stress, depression and anxiety, it is a large proportion of the population. This cannot be said for more serious mental health illnesses such as schizophrenia or cognitive impairments, which have less population size[52][31].

Figure 7 - ICF

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)[53] is a biopsychosocial framework which outlines links between how a health problem can impact the different elements of people's lives. Physiotherapists must be aware of this and incorporate it, to provide a holistic approach to vocational rehabilitation planning.

As with all rehabilitation approaches, practitioners must ensure that the patient's needs are of utmost importance and in order to do this, physiotherapists are increasingly aiding in the recovery of patients who suffer from psychological conditions[54]. In order to effectively do this, they should provide advice and treatment based not only just on physiological problems but also psychological symptoms. This is implemented through different guidelines due to the high frequency and significance of mental factors affecting patients. The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)[55] acknowledge this importance through Outlines HWB6 and HWB7: “psychological factors throughout assessment, treatment planning and implementation”.

A physiotherapist role in the recovery and rehabilitation of patients suffering from a mental illness should merge the treatment of psychological and physical conditions into one; we now look specifically into consolidating the management of the mental condition, stress and how physiotherapy can help deal with this through the vocational rehabilitation setting.

Role of the Physiotherapist in Stress in Vocational Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]

Figure 8 - Importance of Physiotherapists in Reducing Work Related Absences

Musculoskeletal problems are the second highest (22%) reason why patients require vocational rehabilitation, this coming only behind patients who have been out of work due to stress related conditions (35%). Commonly, it is through treatment of musculoskeletal problems that will determine if the stress can be reduced.Research highly documents that a high proportion of patients with MSK conditions develop a mental health condition[56][57][58].

We now understand that physiotherapists within vocational rehabilitation can treat patients who are out of work due to a multitude of ailments whether that be physical, mental or psychosocial. However further understanding behind stress in the working population is needed before the topics of physiotherapy treatment and intervention in the management of stress can be discussed.

What is Stress in the Work Place?[edit | edit source]

Stress, is becoming a worldwide issue and it is important to acknowledge the effects of stress on individuals in and out of the workplace. It is suggested that a considerable percentage of people out of work will develop a mental disorder due to the stress of unemployment. Likewise, patients can equally develop a mental disorder and be subject to mental distress within the workplace[59].

Benefits of Exercise[edit | edit source]

There is significant evidence to show benefits of exercise for the treatment of stress within the workplace. Due to this increased awareness there has been recent increases in the application of prescribed exercise. A systematic review[60] highlights the benefits of exercise on improving the symptoms of those suffering from depression such as increased self-efficacy self-worth and self-image.

It is known that on a physiological level, exercise increases the amount of endorphins within the body[61]. These hormones are well associated with happiness and contribute to the feeling of wellbeing and comfort. A rise in the level of endorphins within the body creates a feeling of joy, improves a normal appetite and boosts the immune system. This response to endorphins helps reduce the negative effect of stress on the body.

With the increase of prescribed exercise there is also an increased awareness of stress affecting employees in the workplace[62]. Therefore there is an emphasis on creating effective work based exercise programmes aimed at helping people suffering from stress to manage their symptoms more effectively.

Physiotherapist Treatment and Management[edit | edit source]

With stress management there are key stages that need to be implemented to ensure effective treatment. The initial stage should be highly focused on the education of the individual[63] it is suggested that a heavily structured programme is created and agreed between the employer and the employee.

There is limited evidence to suggest a precise physiotherapy management for patients suffering from stress[22]. Although there is an increase in stress cases, the amount of evidence has not increased proportionally.

Anxiety and stress were found to be the most common symptoms, alongside anger, depression and low mood to affect patients mental wellbeing[64]. It is important that clinicians recognise warning signs of these conditions as it has been noted that patients who have a psychological complication are more at risk of developing further problems such as increased muscular tension, development of trigger points and reduced function[65].

After research, within clinical practice there have been many different interventions used by physiotherapists to overcome these mental barriers. Some of these include; relaxation, imagery, cognitive behavioural therapy[66], neurological programming[67] and 'mindfulness based stress reduction'[68]. However, the 4 which have been more widely used in clinical practice are: goal setting, positive self talk, effective communication, as well as including variation to rehabilitation exercises[64].

The rehabilitation goal of all vocational rehabilitation patients is hugely driven by the necessity for them to;

  • Remain in work
  • Return to work
  • Access employment for the first time[31]

The theory behind implementing patient and physiotherapist led goals during a rehabilitation session, is that it gives both physiotherapist and patient a common target that both feel they can work towards in order for improvement to be seen.

Reviews which looked at patients thoughts and interpretation of the effectiveness of goal setting explained that they felt it improved their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-efficacy[69].

These positive experiences felt by patients are significant as it has been concluded that patient participation is of extreme importance for when the suitable time is made for goals to be put in place. Apart from increasing the interest and participation of patient's, goal setting also provides the benefit of empowering the patient to take their own responsibility for their recovery as well as aiming to make the rehabilitation process more meaningful and patient centred[64].

However, even though reports from patients have shown largely positive insight into goal setting, when researching physiotherapists views on the subject, a different view point is made aware by Schoeb[70]. It has been found that although goal setting is used widely throughout physiotherapy practices and for many varied patients, there is reason to believe that approaches used for goal setting are rarely standardised. Due to this, it can therefore mean that the effectiveness of approaches used for goal setting can also be inconsistent.

Because of this, there is an increased need for training of professionals within this area. This requirement has been recognised and agreed by some physiotherapists as being an intervention in which they would like to learn further skills in order to implement realistic goal setting for their patients[22].

Through these appropriate goals vocational rehabilitation will aim to gain patient ability within whichever sector of work is desired, from:

  • Full time employment
  • Part time employment
  • Self employment
  • Voluntary work[31]

When looking towards vocational rehabilitation for the management of patients suffering with stress it is important as physiotherapists recognise the importance of an effective relationship between patient and practitioner.

From a qualitative review of therapists[71], certain characteristics and qualities were deemed the most effective in creating a positive alliance between patient and therapist throughout the process of vocational rehabilitation. It was shown that the main characteristics to creating a positive patient therapist relationship were as follows; being trustworthy, experienced in their field; flexible, respectful, confident, warm and open. It is suggested that these qualities will enable a patient to have a more supportive beneficial relationship with the clinician which should allow for greater prospects for change[71]. Therefore while practicing, it is essential to be aware of these traits as applying this knowledge may benefit the relationship that you are able to build with your patient and may have a positive experience on their treatment.

The stage at which physiotherapists enter into vocational rehabilitation can be seen in Figure 9. It must be noted that the point of entry does not and should not end here, ideally continuing to progress until an ultimate goal has been reached.

Figure 9 - Stages of Vocational Rehabilitation

The CSP[48] suggests that for physiotherapy interventions for work based sickness to be effective it has to be easily accessible and started promptly after the initial onset of illness.

By playing a role in vocational rehabilitation at such an early stage, it is important that those patients in need are seen early by a physiotherapist. To help with this, vocational rehabilitation physiotherapists can be in a range of settings from routine health care, to private and public workplaces, allowing for larger access to many various people[22].

As healthcare professionals physiotherapists also experience stress. From a study looking at 3 general hospitals it identifies the main causes of occupational stress. This study uses ‘The Occupational Stressors Inventory Questionnaire’ as a way to evaluate the participants perceived stress levels. This is a 23 point, self-rated questionnaire. It was used on 55 physiotherapists in Lisborn to establish their main occupational stresses. Over half the participants deemed themselves to be moderately stressed within the workplace. From the study, it was established that the main causes of stress were lack of order in the hierarchy command chain, disorganisation in work distribution, overload and low sal

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Stress is defined as a response to being put under pressure or situations that put an individual under pressure that if left unaddressed can result in psychological, physiological and behavioural changes to an individual. There is a strong link between stress and sickness absence. Unemployment can have detrimental effects on both the individual and economy. There is a common view that mental health problems and stress are caused by work however the relationship between the two is complex. While mental well-being can be affected adversely by work there is also strong evidence that work is good for both mental and physical health which are at risk of being reduced or removed once an individual is out of work. From the evidence it can be concluded that work can be therapeutic in that it can transpose the negative health effects of being out of work. Hence through work targeted interventions like vocational rehabilitation and physiotherapy individuals with health problems are helped to return to work.

Vocational rehabilitation is the idea of helping people with health problems stay at, return to and remain in work. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach, involving both healthcare professionals and employers and can also be practiced in a variety of settings from primary healthcare settings to the workplace. There is significant evidence to suggest that the longer a person is absent from work due to ill health, the harder it is for them to make an effective return. Hence, a graded return to work plan can often be adopted by effective negotiation and communication between employers, employees and healthcare professionals. However, both vocational rehabilitation practitioners and healthcare professionals have reported barriers such as, limited access to technology, lack of knowledge, issues with confidentiality and lack of collaboration with employers.

Despite vocational rehabilitation being seen as a specialist role in physiotherapy this does not mean that physiotherapists in other settings should not approach the idea of vocational rehabilitation. The physiotherapists role in the recovery of patients suffering from a mental illness, such as stress, should merge the treatment of psychological and physical conditions into one

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