Could Athletic Trainers Reduce MSDs in Your Workplace?

Ever hear of the “industrial athlete”? The concept is that employees, like athletes, perform better when they are properly trained and fit for duty. Proponents say that the right training leads to fewer injuries, quicker return to work, and reduced costs. Keep reading to decide whether your workplace would benefit from an on-site athletic trainer.

When you’re talking about overuse injuries—repetitive motion injuries and musculoskeletal injuries—you’re right in the sweet spot where athletic trainers work. The expertise of athletic trainers in musculoskeletal injuries makes them a strategic choice for an occupational safety and health team.

What an athletic trainer can do for you

The National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) cites OSHA statistics indicating that 40 percent of total work-related injuries and illnesses are strains and tears, and an additional 29 percent are related to musculoskeletal disorders. Overall, work-related musculoskeletal injuries cost employers $20 billion a year. A NATA study found that businesses that used on-site athletic trainers experienced a drop in lost workdays and reduced costs associated with emergency room visits and other expenses.

• Reduce injury rates. At a Massachusetts healthcare provider, a team of 13 trainers conducts internal workstation ergonomic evaluations, performs on-site injury care and triage, and runs prevention and wellness programs. With the trainers onboard, the business tracked a 30 percent decrease in overall musculoskeletal disorders in a year.

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• Treat sprains and strains. The Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Department has an on-staff trainer who addresses a variety of concerns, including sprains and strains and injuries from vehicle crashes. The Department says the trainer has contributed to an overall reduction of 22 percent in medical costs and 21 percent in musculoskeletal medical expenses.
• Address both job-related and off-the-job injuries. At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an athletic trainer has been offering employees musculoskeletal injury prevention and rehab services for 17 years. Its staff commonly treats space center employees with work-related and non-work-related injuries including cumulative trauma disorders, joint replacements, rotator cuff repairs, low back pain, ACL reconstructions, and sprains and strains.

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• Keep workers on the job. The free, on-site program at the Kennedy Space Center reduces travel time to and from rehab, lets employees maintain their normal routine as they recover and rehabilitate, decreases lost work time, and increases job productivity. The program has treated employees including law enforcement officers, secretaries, roads and ground personnel, janitors, engineers, mechanics, equipment operators, astronauts, and space hardware technicians. The program is estimated to save $750,000 per year.

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