Work-Related Aches, Pains and Movement Concerns

Common work-related presentations

Work-related symptoms often show up in predictable places depending on the job:

• Neck, upper back and shoulder aches from desk and screen work
• Lower back pain and stiffness from lifting, bending or long drives
• Forearm, wrist and elbow aches from tool use, gripping or typing
• Knee, hip and foot aches from long shifts standing or kneeling
• Stiffness after early starts, night shifts or cold mornings

Understanding your job demands

Your osteopath will ask about your role, typical tasks, shift patterns, the tools and equipment you use, and how your symptoms change across the day and week. Photos or a short video of a typical task, your workstation or your vehicle set-up can be useful to bring. Assessment then looks at how you move and what your body currently tolerates, so that advice matches the real demands of your work rather than a generic checklist.

Practical management

Management aims to help you keep working where appropriate, while building capacity for the tasks you find hardest. It may include:

• Hands-on care and dry needling where appropriate
• Exercises you can fit into a work day or before a shift
• Advice on task rotation, movement breaks and lifting strategies
• Graded plans for returning to full duties after time off
• Communication with your GP, employer or case manager, with your consent

WorkCover and workplace injuries

If your symptoms relate to a workplace injury and you have an approved WorkCover claim, appointments may be available under that claim at our Coolaroo clinic with osteopath Dr Elie Mokbel and our Epping clinic with osteopath Dr Matt Tancevski. Please bring your claim number, employer details and case manager information. If you have been injured at work and have not yet reported it, speak with your employer and your GP about the claims process.

What you can do in the meantime

Small changes spread through the day are often easier to keep up than one long session at night. Change position regularly, break up long drives where you can, warm up before heavy or physical tasks on cold mornings, and share heavy or awkward lifts. At a desk, try alternating sitting and standing tasks and taking short walking breaks. Note which tasks bring your symptoms on, as this is useful information for your appointment.