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?