Employee Stretching Programs

Why an employee stretching program?

Injury prevention requires a variety of approaches, as no one intervention has been shown to have an overwhelming effect on reducing injuries. Just as you can increase resistance to certain diseases by vaccination, you can increase resistance to musculoskeletal injuries through a variety of methods, one of which is stretching to improve flexibility.

An injury occurs when an expected, or unexpected, physical stress overloads the worker's level of strength and flexibility. Each individual has a different level of flexibility. Tightness in certain muscle groups can make some every day movements an invitation to injury.

For instance, think of reaching into the back seat of your car while sitting in the driver's seat. Many of us would feel a significant stretch in the front of our shoulder with this movement and some might even end up with a muscle strain. As another example, in our quest to minimize high risk movements through work design, the general flexibility of the workforce may actually be reduced.

There are endless examples as to how limited flexibility can contribute to injury, even when steps have been taken to improve the ergonomic design of the work and work site. The difficulty encountered in reducing the frequency and severity of injuries on the job reinforces the importance of a multifaceted approach which targets the work, the work site and the worker.

The philosophy behind an employee stretching program

is to encourage and assist workers to achieve

a higher level of flexibility

and illustrate to the worker how this is beneficial

both on and off the job.

If you would like more information about developing a stretching program for your employees, contact or visit the CTI Physical Therapy office nearest you.