The Australian Physiotherapy Association declared August “Tradies National Health Month.” Tradies have among the highest rates of musculoskeletal problems and other health and safety risks of any sector.

Every day, ten construction workers are severely hurt at work. That’s 3650 tradies each year on workers’ compensation. When handling materials, nearly a quarter of all roofers, laborers, and plumbers suffer from back pain, muscular tension and strain, or slips, trips, and falls.

Physiotherapists are primary health care providers who specialise in the treatment of physical ailments. They assist with early healthcare intervention, including diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and disability. Physiotherapists can help recovery from injuries, minimize pain and stiffness, and increase mobility as well as prevent additional injury by working in collaboration with their patients.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Physiotherapists are experts in human movement. They understand how your muscles, bones, joints and ligaments work and how injuries happen.

Physiotherapists are able to help get you back to work faster. Physiotherapists can:

  • Assess your muscle strength, flexibility and fitness to design an appropriate fitness program
  • Teach you how to better handle loads, to move more efficiently and safely
  • Teach you how to engage your trunk core stabilisers when performing a task
  • Show you how to prevent injury in your home or workplace
  • Increase strength and range of motion of both upper and lower limbs
  • Increase balance, endurance and joint awareness
  • Increase both core abdominal and upper body strength
  • Improve general fitness and weight control
They may use:   
  • Mobilisation
  • Postural assessment, correction and advice
  • Ultrasound, electrotherapy and heat treatment
  • Advice regarding work role modifications, if required
  • Massage
  • Functional and rehabilitative exercises to improve flexibility, strength, posture and core stability
  • Taping
  • Use of a sacroiliac belt or lumbar brace
  • Use of a lumbar roll for sitting
  • A gradual return to activity program

Early intervention and treatment through physiotherapy and the promotion of preventative health and well-being, can prolong working careers and improve general well-being for any worker in the trade industry.