Client Success Story: Rachael’s return to full-time duties

Longevity Exercise Physiology Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Bella Vista, Randwick, Pymble, Neutral Bay and Balmain look at today’s client success story involving a nurse who works in a hospital in palliative care.

Rachael* started seeing Susannah at our Pymble location in July 2021 during lockdown for a work-related soft tissue shoulder and neck injury. Rachael* had sustained her injury in early 2021 during her shift at work where she was attending to a patient. She sought medical advice from her GP afterward when she was unable to write, and her right arm was very tired and sore. Being a work-related injury, she was given reduced hours and light duties at work and was referred to a Physiotherapist who helped her achieve many of her return-to-work goals.

Rachael* continued to feel the effects of her injury not just at work but at home too. For example doing repetitive tasks such as cooking or cleaning or using her right arm for extended periods of time. She also continued to have neck stiffness after these types of tasks. She reported her right side felt very weak. Rachael* was (and still is) very diligent in performing her recommended exercises and stretches to complete at home from her Physiotherapist.

Rachael* was then advised to see an Exercise Physiologist for further treatment in which she found us at Longevity Exercise Physiology, our goal was to to help strengthen her right arm and so she could get back to normal work duties and hours. Working as a nurse, it is a highly physically demanding job and requires good upper body and lower body strength, as well as good core and posture. Rachael* undertook her initial assessment and each week has been increasing the difficulty of her exercises to strengthen her right arm, neck and posture.

Rachael* has felt more confident in undertaking some of the more strenuous tasks that is required of her job such as using a hoist, sliding patients between beds or pushing wheelchairs

When Rachael* first started seeing Susannah she was still on light duties with reduced work hours. Her time at Longevity has seen her progress to full duties with full work hours in a little under 8 weeks. Rachael* has felt more confident in undertaking some of the more strenuous tasks that is required of her job such as using a hoist, sliding patients between beds or pushing wheelchairs. Rachael* has also been successful at home completing more cooking requiring strength and endurance, on her right arm and neck commenting that she didn’t even notice her injury anymore! She has felt some soreness through her muscles after her exercise sessions but knows this is a normal part of the rehabilitation process.

Given it’s only been such a short time (<8 weeks), it is reassuring that she has seen so much progress and improved not only her work capacity but ability to do things at home with greater ease. During Rachael’s* retesting she experienced full range of motion in her neck and shoulders and reported the ‘heaviness’ that she experienced on her injured side was gone.

*Name changed for privacy reasons

Contact Longevity Personal Training and Exercise Physiology Edgecliff, Pymble, Marrickville, Randwick, Drummoyne, Balmain, Bella Vista and Neutral Bay on 1300 964 002 to enquire today.

Written by Susannah Mah-Chut