By Thibault Deschamps, occupational therapist in socio-professional rehabilitation

Following an injury or a medical condition, you may experience difficulties in performing one or more tasks related to your job. In such cases, support may be necessary. 

The occupational therapist is a healthcare professional who analyzes the various factors influencing the barriers to returning to work or the challenges you may face in performing your job duties. They identify the demands of the job (required postures, applied forces, tools and equipment used, etc.) in order to determine the risk factors involved (intensity, frequency, and duration). Based on observations and interviews with the worker and, when needed, with other parties (employer, insurer, etc.), a search for solutions is initiated.

The occupational therapist can visit the workplace to gather as much information as possible. However, an in-clinic assessment is also possible (based on a task description, photos, videos, etc.).

The interventions provided by the occupational therapist in socio-professional rehabilitation include:

• Workstation assessment (in the workplace or at home)
• Support through the various stages of returning to or staying in employment
• Development of a functional training program and simulations of work tasks in a clinical setting to help the person safely and sustainably resume their occupation
• Education (e.g., lifting techniques, symptom management strategies, etc.)
• Identification and recommendation of compensatory strategies (e.g., task alternatives, schedule adjustments, etc.)
• Recommendation of orthopedic equipment (e.g., braces, adapted gloves, etc.)
• Recommendation of assistive devices
• Recommendation of ergonomic equipment (e.g., ergonomic keyboard, non-slip surfaces, etc.)
• Proposal of a detailed return-to-work plan to be approved by the treating physician