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Occupational Health Support For DSE Users. Sandi Adams RGN, BSc Hons (OHN) SCPHN. Outline. The role of occupational health The role of OH with regard to DSE Carpel tunnel syndrome including: What is CTS and how does it impact on DSE work? OH advice for employers and employees - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Occupational Health Occupational Health Support For DSE UsersSupport For DSE Users
Sandi AdamsSandi Adams
RGN, BSc Hons (OHN) SCPHNRGN, BSc Hons (OHN) SCPHN
OutlineOutline
• The role of occupational healthThe role of occupational health– The role of OH with regard to DSE The role of OH with regard to DSE
• Carpel tunnel syndrome including: Carpel tunnel syndrome including: – What is CTS and how does it impact on DSE What is CTS and how does it impact on DSE
work?work?– OH advice for employers and employeesOH advice for employers and employees– Supporting the return to workSupporting the return to work– Prevention of future problemsPrevention of future problems
• Self helpSelf help
The Role of Occupational The Role of Occupational HealthHealth
• a public health speciality that considers a public health speciality that considers the effect of the work environment on the effect of the work environment on employee health and the influence of employee health and the influence of employee health on the ability to workemployee health on the ability to work
• an advisory function for employers and an advisory function for employers and employees, not a treatment serviceemployees, not a treatment service
The Role of Occupational The Role of Occupational Health can also include:Health can also include:
• Pre-placement assessmentPre-placement assessment• Health surveillanceHealth surveillance• Vaccination e.g. seasonal fluVaccination e.g. seasonal flu• Incident investigation/follow up/supportIncident investigation/follow up/support• Employee assessmentEmployee assessment
– Self referralSelf referral– Management/HR referral, including sickness Management/HR referral, including sickness
absence management and adviceabsence management and advice
Role of Occupational health Role of Occupational health with regard to DSEwith regard to DSE
• Employer support Employer support – Advice on preventing problems Advice on preventing problems
developingdeveloping– Advice on managing employees with Advice on managing employees with
DSE related issues e.g. work DSE related issues e.g. work adaptations, specialist equipmentadaptations, specialist equipment
– Return to work advice and support via Return to work advice and support via management referral of employeemanagement referral of employee
Role of Occupational health Role of Occupational health with regard to DSEwith regard to DSE
• Employee supportEmployee support– Prevention or management of problems Prevention or management of problems
e.g. musculo-skeletal/carpel tunnel e.g. musculo-skeletal/carpel tunnel syndrome/headaches/visual problemssyndrome/headaches/visual problems
– Post operative/post treatment support Post operative/post treatment support as appropriateas appropriate
– Return to work advice and support via Return to work advice and support via management referralmanagement referral
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
– Occurs when the median nerve, which runs from Occurs when the median nerve, which runs from
the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes compressed at the wristcompressed at the wrist
– Causes burning, tingling, numbness in the palm of Causes burning, tingling, numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers; symptoms often appear at the hand and fingers; symptoms often appear at night at first and then during the day as the night at first and then during the day as the condition worsenscondition worsens
– Can also cause decreased grip strength and Can also cause decreased grip strength and difficulty in differentiating between hot and colddifficulty in differentiating between hot and cold
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
• Who’s at risk of developing the Who’s at risk of developing the condition?condition?– Women are 3 times more likely to develop Women are 3 times more likely to develop
itit– Those with diabetes or other metabolic Those with diabetes or other metabolic
disordersdisorders– AdultsAdults– Assembly line workersAssembly line workers– DSE usersDSE users
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
• CausesCauses– Congenital predisposition e.g. a small Congenital predisposition e.g. a small
carpel tunnelcarpel tunnel– Previous trauma or injury to the wrist Previous trauma or injury to the wrist
causing swellingcausing swelling– Mechanical problems with the wrist jointMechanical problems with the wrist joint– Repetitive actionsRepetitive actions– Repeated use of vibrating hand toolsRepeated use of vibrating hand tools
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
PreventionPrevention– Encourage employees to Encourage employees to
•discuss difficulties/pain/discomfort with Line discuss difficulties/pain/discomfort with Line Manager at earliest opportunityManager at earliest opportunity
•perform stretching exercisesperform stretching exercises
•take frequent rest breaks from repetitive taskstake frequent rest breaks from repetitive tasks
•consider task rotationconsider task rotation
•Ensure that workstations are ergonomically Ensure that workstations are ergonomically designed to maintain a natural wrist positiondesigned to maintain a natural wrist position
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
Treatment – non-surgicalTreatment – non-surgical– Initially rest for up to 2 weeksInitially rest for up to 2 weeks– Avoid activities which worsen symptomsAvoid activities which worsen symptoms– Immobilise the wrist in a splint to avoid further Immobilise the wrist in a splint to avoid further
damagedamage– MedicationMedication– Stretching and strengthening exercises once Stretching and strengthening exercises once
symptoms are reducingsymptoms are reducing– Alternative therapies, e.g. acupuncture, Alternative therapies, e.g. acupuncture,
chiropractic carechiropractic care
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
Treatment – surgicalTreatment – surgical– Open release surgeryOpen release surgery– Endoscopic release surgery – faster Endoscopic release surgery – faster
functional recovery, smaller incisions functional recovery, smaller incisions allowing return to normal activities in a allowing return to normal activities in a shorter period of timeshorter period of time
Carpel Tunnel SyndromeCarpel Tunnel Syndrome
RecoveryRecovery– May take 4-6 weeks before able to May take 4-6 weeks before able to
return to workreturn to work– A phased resumption of hours and A phased resumption of hours and
duties may enable an earlier return to duties may enable an earlier return to workwork
– recovery to full function may take recovery to full function may take monthsmonths
Self HelpSelf Help
• Staff should be encouraged to move Staff should be encouraged to move from a static posture and stretch from a static posture and stretch regularlyregularly
• The following exercises can be usedThe following exercises can be used
• Join in if you would like to!Join in if you would like to!
• One of the biggest injury risk factors is static posture.One of the biggest injury risk factors is static posture.
• Try to spend at least 5 minutes every hour away from your computer.Try to spend at least 5 minutes every hour away from your computer.
• Remember to ONLY stretch to the point of mild tension.Remember to ONLY stretch to the point of mild tension.
• Try to incorporate the stretches into your daily routine.Try to incorporate the stretches into your daily routine.
Hand ExercisesHand Exercises
• Tightly clench your hand into a fist and release, fanning out the fingers. Tightly clench your hand into a fist and release, fanning out the fingers. Repeat 3 timesRepeat 3 times
Exercises for the workplaceExercises for the workplace
Back and Shoulder ExercisesBack and Shoulder Exercises
• Stand up straight, place your right hand on your Stand up straight, place your right hand on your left shoulder and move your head back gently. left shoulder and move your head back gently. Do the same thing for the right shoulderDo the same thing for the right shoulder
Head and Neck ExercisesHead and Neck Exercises
• Move head sideways from left to Move head sideways from left to right and back to leftright and back to left
• Move head backwards and then Move head backwards and then forwardforward
Computer and Desk Stretches …Computer and Desk Stretches …• Sitting at a computer for long periods often cause Sitting at a computer for long periods often cause
neck and shoulder stiffness and occasionally neck and shoulder stiffness and occasionally lower back pain. Encourage staff to do these lower back pain. Encourage staff to do these stretches every hour or so throughout the day. stretches every hour or so throughout the day. Also get up and walk around the office whenever Also get up and walk around the office whenever you think of it. You’ll feel betteryou think of it. You’ll feel better..
… … Computer and Desk Computer and Desk Stretches …Stretches …
… … Computer and Desk Computer and Desk StretchesStretches
Thank youThank you
Any questions?Any questions?
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