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Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
Returning to work after long term sickness absence due to low back pain - the struggle within: a qualitative study of
Cormac G Ryan1, Douglas Lauchlan2, Leigh Rooney1
1Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
Background:
Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of work absence. Assisting individuals back into work is an important part of rehabilitation.
Objective:
To explore the experiences of individuals returning to work after an episode of sickness absence due to LBP.
Participants:
Five women employed by a UK University who had returned to work.
Method:
In this qualitative study, participants underwent semi-structured interviews about their experiences. The transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Results:
Two primary themes emerged 1) perceived pressure to return to work and 2) strategies employed to relieve the pressure to return. Pressure to return to work arose from a number of sources including guilt and a personal work ethic, internally, and from colleagues and management, externally. This pressure led to the individual employing a number of strategies to reduce it. These ranged from a simple denial of health concerns and decision to return to work regardless of their condition, to placing the responsibility of the decision not to return to work onto a significant other, such as a family member or health care professional.
Conclusions:
Individuals returning to work with LBP experience considerable pressure to return and use a range of strategies to mediate that pressure.
