Workplace-based rehabilitation with garment workers: A multiple case study

Garment workers are at risk of developing work-related upper limb disorders (WRULD) due to the highly repetitive nature of their work. Workplace-based rehabilitation (WBR) facilitates improvement in work performance by providing intervention at the worker's place of work.

This study aims to determine the documented outcomes of workplace-based occupational therapy rehabilitation of garment workers with upper limb conditions.

A multiple case study design was used through a retrospective record review. All garment workers with upper limb conditions who were treated at a student occupational therapy practice in Cape Town, South Africa, with pre- and post-intervention outcome assessment, were included in the study (n = 7). Data were extracted from occupational therapy and medical files.

70% of the cases (n = 5) improved after WBR while 30% of cases showed no improvement or deterioration. Participants received 3- 5 individual WBR sessions of approximately 30 minutes each, over a period of 4 to 6 weeks. Interventions included workstation adaptations, job rotation, psychoeducation, work task modification, assistive technology and exercise programmes. Outcome measures most commonly used were the RULA, DASH, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and pain intensity using the VAS.

Workplace-based occupational therapy can be effective at improving upper limb function, pain and ergonomic risk amongst garment workers with upper limb conditions.