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Employer, Physical Therapist, and Employee Outcomes in the Management of Work-Related Upper Extremity Disorders

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among employer, provider, and patient outcome measures and how they are related to clinical factors and other occupation-related factors. Data were obtained from a New England workplace physical therapy (PT) clinic. Successful outcomes were defined as remaining-on/returning-to preinjury job (employer); achieving PT goals (provider); and increases in the SF-36 scale scores (patient). Variation in outcomes was explored across injury regions (shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand), work categories, number of visits, and length of PT care. Employer and provider outcomes are moderately correlated (phi coefficient = 0.51). Subjects demonstrated significant improvements in the SF-36 physical functioning and bodily pain scores after physical therapy intervention. Patients with elbow disorders needed more PT care and did not improve in the SF-36 role physical domain compared to shoulder and wristgroups (p < 0.05). Our results describe the relationship between outcome measures from different perspectives and the influence from other contributing factors. The impact of workplace injury management and the selection of outcome measures warrant continued study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

    Ming-Shun S. Cheng

  2. School of Public Health, University of Texas – Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas

    Benjamin C. Amick III

  3. Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Canada

    Benjamin C. Amick III

  4. Post-Professional Physical Therapy Program, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts

    Mary P. Watkins

  5. HealthSouth Rehab Center of Granite Hill Physical Therapy, Brunswick, Maine

    Catherine D. Rhea

Authors
  1. Ming-Shun S. Cheng
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  2. Benjamin C. Amick III
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  3. Mary P. Watkins
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  4. Catherine D. Rhea
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Correspondence to Ming-Shun S. Cheng.

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Cheng, MS.S., Amick, B.C., Watkins, M.P. et al. Employer, Physical Therapist, and Employee Outcomes in the Management of Work-Related Upper Extremity Disorders. J Occup Rehabil 12, 257–267 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020222623882

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