Helpful Therapies for Foot Pain—Occupational Therapy Companies Inform

You only have one body, so you have the sole responsibility to look after your well-being—from the top of your head down to your toes. However, if you own a company or manage a business that requires you to hire employees for certain tasks, the duty of maintaining worker health and safety will also fall on your hands. By adhering to established occupational health guidelines and working with occupational therapy companies, such as the U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group, you’ll be able to assist your employees in maintaining, enhancing, and recovering their health.

Foot Safety in the Workplace

Other than helmets, gloves, and jumpsuits, workers in industrial settings like construction sites, machine shops, warehouses, and manufacturing factories are required to wear safety boots that can protect their feet from compression, punctures, falling objects, or chemical spills. Moreover, jobs that require long periods of standing also tire the feet and can even cause permanent damage. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iL32Y9

Worksite Clinic Flu Shots and Better Information for the Flu Season

“Did you get your flu shot yet?” is a question that you’ll often hear asked around the workplace during the flu season, which begins in October but comes into full swing December to February. Since flu season occurs in the winter, a common misconception is that the illness is caused by cold temperatures. The truth is, the influenza virus is what’s causing the flu, and winter’s lower temperatures are only a contributing factor to becoming ill.

In addition to the cold, many argue that the changes that people have in their lifestyles during winter—such as spending more time indoors with windows sealed—are primary contributing factors. As an employer, aside from having a worksite clinic that gives flu shots, it’s important to let your people know how they can put themselves at risk of the illness as an added measure to help them fight it. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iL7sOF

Travel Vaccinations and Three Other Things to Do Before Going Abroad

Whether you are traveling abroad for work or for leisure, there’s no denying that visiting a foreign country is an enjoyable experience. This is especially true when you visit a country for the very first time. It’s easy to get caught up with planning your schedule or packing your luggage, but be sure to make time to also visit an urgent care center to receive your travel vaccinations.

Travel vaccines are important for two distinct reasons. The first reason is that certain countries may have diseases that are not found in the U.S., which means we do not have the natural defenses to fight them off. The second reason is to prevent becoming infected, returning to the United States, and spreading the disease to other people. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iPafZz

Sports Physicals: Steps to Take to Prepare for Your Physical Exam

Over the last few years, it seems like we are always seeing professional athletes return quickly from absolutely devastating injuries. One of the best examples of this is Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, who came back from a torn ACL and MCL in 2012 and won MVP honors.

As inspiring as these quick recovery stories are, it is important to note that Peterson was cleared to play by team doctors prior to returning to the field. It’s not as if he returned to the field on a gut feeling that he was fine. This is important to note because it highlights the importance of sports physicals.

Sports physicals are more than just a mere formality; they are designed to prevent further injury. Even a “small sprain” can weaken structures enough to raise your risk of re-injuring yourself if you do not give your body enough time to recover. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iL0okN

Employee Drug Testing and Marijuana at Work: What’s an Employer to Do?

The debate on marijuana has been going on for years. Even though the drug is now legal in some states, the debate continues to rage on. Nevertheless, one aspect of marijuana use is certainly not up for argument: the drug doesn’t belong in the workplace.

Yes, marijuana can treat a variety of diseases and conditions, but it also comes with many negative side effects, both short term (severe anxiety, forgetfulness, hallucinations, panic, lowered reaction time) and long term (decline in IQ, impaired thinking, inability to learn and perform new and complex tasks, addiction, lower life satisfaction, antisocial behavior). Clearly, none of these symptoms do the workplace any favor. This is why a random employee drug-testing policy that tests for marijuana, as well as other drugs and alcohol, is a must for all businesses. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iL2SQl

Ongoing and Pre-Employment Physical Program: A Must for Truck Drivers

When you think of the health risks of being a long-haul truck driver, you’ll probably put vehicle accidents at the top of the list, and you wouldn’t be wrong. According to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 503 truck drivers lost their lives in 2014. The survey adds that truck drivers, along with drivers/sales workers, accounted for nearly 2 out of every 3 fatal injuries in the transportation and material moving occupation.

What might not be that apparent, however, are the health risks inherent in a truck driver’s lifestyle. These professionals tend to be sedentary for long hours, with limited sleeping hours and even more limited access to healthy foods. Couple that with the daily stresses of being on the road, and you have the perfect recipe for potentially debilitating health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iP3Zkq

4 Foam Roller Exercises Recommended by Occupational Health Services

Foam rolling has transformed from a body conditioning technique commonly used by professional athletes and therapists to a familiar workout practice for people at different levels of fitness. As the name suggests, foam rolling involves the use of a roll of foam. The popularity of the routine owes greatly to the fact that foam rollers are cheap equipment, are readily available, and are more convenient than getting deep tissue massages, while providing practically the same benefits to health.

The fact that foam rolling can be just as good for the body as a massage may be particularly interesting for people who don’t have time for the latter. If you’re an employer, occupational health service providers recommend that you share these easy foam rolling techniques with your employees to help increase mobility, reduce pain and avoid injury. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iKZ41y

Occupational Medicine Clinic Stresses Importance of Employee Eye Tests

Routine eye exams are important for everyone, regardless of age or physical health. It is especially critical for employees whose job requires them to meet a vision standard. The eyes won’t usually tell a person when something is wrong, and when a symptom presents itself, it could already be too late.

A routine eye test done at a comprehensive occupational medicine facility can help identify early signs of eye conditions before becoming aware of any symptoms. The good news is that many of these conditions can be treated if identified early.

Who should get their eyes examined?

Law enforcement, rescue, aviation, and transportation are just some of the job sectors where having good vision is a necessity. In particular, employees who drive motor vehicles for a living need to have good vision to stay safe on the road. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iKZc0O

Occupational Health Company: 4 Workplace Exercises for Your Employees

Over time, advancements in industry and technology have significantly affected the way people spend their waking hours. Whether for good or bad remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure — while it was common for people in the past to spend virtually the entire day on their feet, the norm today is to spend that same amount of time sitting.

Modern day conveniences allow people to do much work without leaving their chair, from making phone calls, to writing emails and even participating in meetings via teleconferencing. Unfortunately, such a laidback lifestyle comes with a lot of inherent problems, with some having the potential to affect health. Since the body is designed for near perpetual movement, office workers need to get out of their chair from time to time and get moving. Your occupational health company highly recommends these five exercises that you and your employees can incorporate into the workday. Read more from this blog: http://bit.ly/2iKWhFy

U.S. HealthWorks Tips for Employers on Avoiding Injury Management Mistakes

The safety of your employees in the workplace falls within the purview of your responsibilities as the head of the company. As such, it’s only right that you educate yourself about proper injury management for your organization.

Apart from the emergency and first aid measures that must be put in place, you are also supposed to be well-versed when it comes to the workers compensation system. This is so that you can ensure that you are fulfilling your obligations to your employees, while at the same time protecting the interests of the company. Read more from this blog:
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Back to Work: Physical and Occupational Therapy for Injured Employees

Business owners have the legal responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees in the workplace by adhering to set standards or guidelines. Unfortunately, even with safety provisions and preventive strategies, some accidents and subsequent injuries may still occur and are simply beyond an employer’s control. Therefore, employee-centric companies do not only provide proper compensation to their injured workers, but also rehabilitative therapy to help them get back to work at the soonest possible time.

Common Workplace Injuries

According to the Wellness Council of America, a worker is injured every five seconds and every ten seconds a worker suffers an injury that can cause temporary or permanent disability. So what are the usual types of injury faced by workers on a daily basis? Read more from this blog:
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Onsite Clinic for Employees: Why It’s a Great Investment for Business

According to a 2012 research study by the Integrated Benefits Institute, which represents leading U.S. employers and business groups, poor health costs the U.S. economy $576 billion a year, with $227 billion resulting from “lost productivity” due to illnesses. Therefore, as healthcare costs continue to rise, organizations are seeking new ways to control health-related losses and keep their workforce healthy. One key solution that employers are now investing in is an onsite clinic for their employees.

What is an Onsite Health Clinic?

An onsite health clinic, also known as a worksite clinic, is exactly as both terms imply: it’s a health facility that is located in or near the workplace. Read more from this blog:
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After Vaccinations for Travel, Pack the Perfect Travel First Aid Kit

Did you know that there are approximately 600 million international travelers with around 80 million traveling annually from developed to developing countries? Such a large number, along with the increasing reach and coverage of the transportation industry, led to the founding and establishment of travel medicine, or emporiatrics, a branch of medicine that focuses on the prevention and management of diseases for international travelers, especially those who venture to tropical countries.

Vaccinations: First Line of Defense

Take note that traveling to rural areas or developing countries carry specific health risks that you need to research and ask about when you set an appointment with healthcare centers, such as U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group, which offer travel medicine services. Read more from this blog:
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Sports Physical Therapists Offer Some Exercises for the Fall Season

Many people tend to take a break from their rigid workout programs once summer ends and the cooler fall season comes around. Layering and bundling replace bikinis and board shorts, and the drops in temperatures make it hard for most to stay committed to their nightly run schedule.

Despite these factors, however, fitness experts point to the fall season as the best time to get up and keep moving, especially because the holidays are just around the corner. If you think about it, this advice does make sense.

For many people, the difficulty to get back into shape in time for summer can be traced back to when they let up on their programs on account of the colder season. In fact, even sports physical therapists echo the sentiments of fitness experts in this regard. For them, there’s no better time to begin your new workout regimen than during fall. Read more from this blog:
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Getting Sick is Expensive! Get Flu Shots for Work, Urgent Care Advises

It’s no secret that getting sick entails a lot of money to deal with. From doctor’s visits to prescriptions for medication, and even lost income due to absences, all of these add up to make a staggering annual loss for the nation in general.

In fact, a study published recently in Health Affairs confirms this as much by showing that as much as $5.8 billion are lost from simply having flu. With that number, suddenly the flu doesn’t seem so simple anymore.

Preventing the Money Drain

The flu does not have to be an inevitable especially once the flu season hits, though. There is one way to deal with it and that is through flu vaccination. Read more from this blog:
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The Real Cost of the Flu: Why You Should Get Flu Shots for Employees

The flu puts an average American adult out of commission for a few days and cost as much as $5.8 billion in 2015, according to a recent study published in Health Affairs.

This is a staggering amount considering that it’s “just the flu”. These costs, said the study, can be attributed to medical bills (visits and medications) and lost revenue for businesses as a result of reduced productivity on the work floor.

If you are an employer who has not looked at the flu as a serious threat or impediment to your operations, then this study should be a wake-up call for you. It’s time to rethink your workplace health program and make sure to offer flu shots for work. Read more from this blog:
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Three Reasons Your Company Should Have Pre Employment Drug Testing

When it comes to your business, it’s crucial that you find the right employees to join your team. Ideally, you should get someone who is reliable, efficient, cooperative and collaborative, and of course, healthy.

There are many factors that you should consider when vetting applicants, but the one method that you can scientifically rely on to filter those who don’t meet your requirements are physical medical exams that also include pre employment drug testing.

Most businesses make this mandatory for their applicants for very good reasons. Here are some of them:

1.        Employee Safety

Drug use and addiction have grave consequences that inevitably affect not just the immediate family of the user, but also others they interact with, including coworkers. Read more from this blog:
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Watch Out for Rain and Bad Weather, Occupational Health Services Warn

It’s not a coincidence that out of all the seasons, occupational health specialists worry most about rainy weather that occurs in the winter and spring. This is because these are the times when accidents such as slip-and-falls and car crashes are most likely to happen.

These accidents can happen anywhere, not just on the roads. In fact, if you’re not mindful, you could see a spike in your injured or sickly staff during this time of the year.

Slippery When Wet

The most common correlation of wet weather and accidents is the effect that it has on surfaces. The type of flooring in your workplace will have a direct consequence for the safety of your staff, especially if it is the type to become slippery when wet. Laminates, tiles, marble, or any other kind of surface that becomes slick are potentially dangerous. Read more from this blog:
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Basic Things to Expect from Having a Pre-Employment Physical Exam

After successfully passing through the hurdles of initial interviews, an applicant is usually expected to undergo a pre employment physical by the company they are hoping to join. The main objective of this is to ensure that the applicant is fit enough to start working with them.

In this process, it’s not just the applicant that should prepare for the exam, but also the employer.

Expectations for Employers

Ideally, you already should have an established agreement with an occupational health service provider so that they can facilitate your applicants’ pre employment physicals.  It’s important for you to have the basic information about your employees’ health so that you can be aware of any considerations that must be made in terms of their workload. Read more from this blog:
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Occupational Medicine on the Benefits of a Workplace Exercise Program

Work stress is among the major contributors to illness. When things become stressful in a person’s professional life, it inevitably takes a toll on their general health, thereby compromising their ability not only to work efficiently, but also to function effectively in their day-to-day life.

A lot of times, though, these stresses can be easily alleviated with simple exercises. However, most people are not likely to make room in their schedule for the gym because they are busy. If they can’t make it to the gym to workout, then why not bring the workout to them?

This is also a great idea because science itself backs the validity and benefits of having a workplace exercise program.

Occupational medicine practitioners welcome the findings of a recent study conducted by UCLA researchers, which concluded that having a workout program at work could improve the performance of employees. Read more from this blog:
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