Our Functional Restoration Programmes (FRP) are for those individuals who experience persistent or chronic musculoskeletal conditions, such as lower back pain. These conditions severely effect both work and personal quality of life. It is aimed at individuals who haven’t responded to other medical treatments and therapies.
Our experience shows that employees who have prolonged or frequent absence or work restriction benefit from access to this service. Between 3-5% of referrals can benefit from access to this service, as their condition requires more intensive intervention than is provided for by the acute service e.g. psychosocial barriers to recovery, reported longer term activity restrictions or suffering from recurrent or long-term absence from work.
To access the programme each employee undergoes a detailed, three-hour, one-to-one assessment, and if suitable would join the programme comprising education, exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and work activities to restore capability and confidence to return to full normal duties.
This is a group programme delivered for one day per week (5 –6 hours). Participants attend for an average of 6 weeks alongside a graduated return to work plan. The nature of this type of group program requires a reasonable volume of cases for classes to be cost-effective, sustainable and beneficial and typically we achieve this by running classes with patients from multiple clients.
The programme helps restore capabilities and confidence of individuals to rehabilitate to an enhanced level of function.
A video outlining this service can be viewed here.
84% Of those completing FRP are discharged on full duties.