Back · Shoulder · Repetitive strain · Crush and lifting

WorkCover injuries we treat, Inner West Sydney

Most workplace injuries here are backs, shoulders and repetitive strain. The physical demands of your job decide the rehabilitation more than the diagnosis does.

Two people with the same shoulder diagnosis need different programmes if one works at a desk and the other stacks pallets. The injury sets the early treatment; the job sets what recovery has to reach before you are back on full duties.

That is why assessment here starts with what your role actually involves, in weights and repetitions, rather than with a job title.

What we see

The injuries that make up most claims

This is not an exhaustive list. If your injury is not here, it does not mean we do not treat it.

Lower back

Lifting injuries, disc irritation and persistent back pain. The most common workers compensation claim by a distance, and the one where early graded loading makes the most difference.

Shoulder

Rotator cuff strains and tears, impingement and post-surgical rehabilitation. Overhead and repeated lifting roles need shoulder blade control restored before load is added back.

Repetitive strain

Tendinopathy at the elbow, wrist and forearm from sustained repetitive tasks. Load management and technique change matter more here than treatment on the table.

Crush, sprain and fracture

Acute injuries from machinery, falls and manual handling, including rehabilitation after surgery and after a period of immobilisation.

Knee and ankle

Slips, falls and twisting injuries. Roles involving ladders, uneven ground or repeated squatting need that specific tolerance rebuilt, not just range of movement.

Psychological injury

Psychological injury is compensable in NSW and is treated by registered psychologists rather than by us. Where a physical and a psychological injury run together we work alongside that treatment; persistent pain and mood are closely linked and neither improves well in isolation.

Approach

Rehabilitation built around the job

Early treatment settles pain and restores movement. That part is common to most injuries. What differs is the second half, where capacity has to be rebuilt to a specific standard.

We ask what you lift, how often, at what height, and for how long a shift. Those numbers become the targets in your programme, and hitting them is what makes a return to full duties a measurement rather than a guess.

Common questions

Questions we get asked

Is my injury covered if it developed gradually?
It can be. Injuries that develop over time from repetitive work, such as tendinopathy, are compensable in NSW. The claim needs to establish that work was a substantial contributing factor.
What if I had a pre-existing condition?
A claim can still be accepted where work aggravated, accelerated or exacerbated an existing condition. Clear documentation of how your function changed after the incident is what supports it.
Do you treat psychological injury?
No. Psychological injury is treated by registered psychologists. We work alongside that treatment where there is also a physical injury.

Not sure whether your injury is covered?

Book a free 30 minute call. We will tell you honestly, including if the answer is that you need a different service.

Plan managed and self managed welcome · No referral needed · Five Dock & Gladesville