Workplace-oriented musculoskeletal rehabilitation. In the German statutory accident insurance

As of May 3rd, 2011, workplace-related muscular skeletal rehabilitation has been a rehabilitation module within the German Statutory Accident Insurance (DGUV). Essential components of the procedure include compiling and documenting detailed standardized functional workplace profiles. A comparison of these profiles enables existing physical deficits to be identified and adequate deficit-orientated therapy to be planned. The effectiveness of workplace-related musculoskeletal rehabilitation was measured by means of a prospective monitoring study. Commercial and industrial employees (both male and female) aged between 20 and 65 years at the time of their accident were included in the study. Numerous rehabilitation process parameters, the results of re-entry to work as well as residual reductions in work capacity were evaluated. Immediately following workplace-related musculoskeletal rehabilitation, work capacity for the last job performed could be achieved. The number of cases of a reduction in work capacity was low. Workplace-related musculoskeletal rehabilitation proved to be a highly successful specific therapy, supporting re-entry to work within a minimum period of time. Further, possibly randomized studies for sustainable evidence of efficiency are desirable.