Tackling musculoskeletal problems: a guide for clinic and workplace - identifying obstacles using the psychosocial flags framework

Most people experience musculoskeletal problems some time during their lifetime. The essence of tackling musculoskeletal problems is not so much what has happened, but how to facilitate recovery. People can fail to recover and return to work in a timely fashion because they come up against obstacles. Psychosocial obstacles can be more important than biomedical factors. Tackling Musculoskeletal Problems is about using the psychosocial flags approach to identify obstacles, formulate a plan and take action to overcome them.
In identifying the key obstacles across the domains of the person, the workplace, and the context, this guide enables you to develop a plan that addresses specific problems and provides a timeline for recovery. Tackling Musculoskeletal Problems takes a problem solving approach: it sets out the steps that need to be taken and, importantly, who needs to take them and when.
The scientific background for Tackling Musculoskeletal Problems was an international Flags Think-Tank, involving 21 experts in the psychosocial aspects of musculoskeletal disorders. Their deliberations and scientific thinking were synthesised into this definitive guide, which is designed to be of interest to all the key players:
• Healthcare: primary care practitioners, occupational health professionals, therapists, rehabilitation providers.
• Workplace: line managers, senior management, human resources, health and safety advisors.
• Context: other groups that will also find this guide essential include claims handlers, insurers, lawyers, case managers, trainers and employment advisors.