How It Works
Fast-track referral. When an employee presents with an MSK issue, whether through a management referral, your First Day Absence service, or directly through HR. We initiate a physiotherapy assessment within days. Not weeks. Not months. Days. The speed of access is what transforms an MSK absence from an extended problem into a managed recovery.
Clinical assessment. A qualified physiotherapist evaluates the condition, identifies the root cause, provides a treatment plan, and gives a realistic prognosis for return to full duties. Your HR team receives a functional capacity report that describes what the employee can and cannot do in practical terms, not a clinical diagnosis that nobody in your office can interpret.
Treatment programme. Hands-on physiotherapy, exercise rehabilitation, and self-management guidance. Sessions are scheduled to minimise time away from work, with early morning, evening, and virtual options available. The treatment plan is designed around the goal of returning the employee to their specific role, not just improving their general health.
Return-to-work support. The treating physiotherapist communicates directly with your OH team (with the employee’s consent) to recommend phased returns, workplace adjustments, or modified duties. One clinical conversation producing one coherent set of recommendations, rather than two separate referrals generating conflicting advice.
When to Refer
Acute injury. A manual worker strains their back on shift. Early physiotherapy prevents a two-week absence from becoming a two-month absence. The sooner the clinical intervention, the better the prognosis.
Persistent pain. An office worker’s shoulder pain is getting worse despite GP advice. Clinical assessment identifies the root cause, perhaps a postural issue, a rotator cuff problem, or a referred pain from the cervical spine, and starts targeted treatment.
Post-surgical recovery. An employee has had knee surgery and needs structured rehabilitation to return to a physical role safely. The physiotherapist builds a progressive programme that respects the surgical timeline while maintaining fitness and confidence.
Repeated short-term absence. An employee keeps taking odd days off with back pain. Rather than managing each absence as a separate event, physiotherapy addresses the underlying condition and breaks the cycle.
The Advantage of Integration
Standalone physiotherapy providers treat the body. They do not see the employment context. Our MSK pathway sits within our SEQOHS-accredited clinical governance framework, which means the physiotherapist understands the job demands, the OH team has visibility of the treatment plan, and HR receives one coherent set of recommendations.
No conflicting advice from three separate providers. No information gaps between the physio, the GP, and your OH adviser. The treatment plan takes account of the specific physical requirements of the employee’s role, and the return-to-work recommendation reflects what the treating clinician actually observed during therapy, not what a GP assumed based on a ten-minute consultation.
Virtual and Face-to-Face Options
Virtual physiotherapy consultations are effective for many MSK conditions, particularly for initial assessment, exercise prescription, posture correction, and self-management coaching. They’re convenient for employees, reduce time away from work, and allow treatment to continue for remote or home-based workers.
Face-to-face sessions are available across the UK where hands-on treatment is clinically required, manual therapy, joint mobilisation, or post-surgical rehabilitation that needs physical assessment. Most treatment programmes combine both, with face-to-face sessions for hands-on treatment and virtual follow-ups for exercise progression and self-management review.
Conditions We Treat
Our MSK service covers the full range of workplace-relevant musculoskeletal conditions:
Lower back pain. The single most common MSK-related absence. Causes range from acute strain to chronic disc problems. Treatment combines manual therapy, exercise rehabilitation, and workplace ergonomic advice.
Neck and shoulder injuries. Common in office workers, manual handlers, and repetitive-task roles. Often linked to poor workstation setup or sustained awkward postures.
Upper limb disorders. Including carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff injuries. Frequently seen in manufacturing, assembly, and keyboard-intensive roles.
Knee and hip problems. Affecting manual workers, construction operatives, and anyone in a physically demanding role. Post-surgical rehabilitation is a particular strength of our service.
Repetitive strain injuries. Affecting office workers, production line staff, and anyone performing repetitive movements over extended periods.
What This Means for Your Business
Musculoskeletal conditions account for approximately 23% of all working days lost to ill health in the UK. The average MSK absence lasts 15.6 days. Fast-track physiotherapy that reduces that to 5 days saves 10.6 days of absence per case. At an average daily cost of £150, that’s £1,590 saved per employee, significantly more than the cost of the physiotherapy itself.
