Here are some articles that relate to the statistics provided:
- Sickness absence costs the UK around £15 billion annually in lost economic output Source: Health and Safety Executive. (2020). Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSDs) Statistics in Great Britain, 2020.
- £13 billion is spent on health-related state benefits Source: Department for Work and Pensions. (2018). National statistics: DWP benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2018.
- In the NHS, almost 40% of staff sickness absence is due to musculoskeletal conditions, e.g., back pain Source: NHS Employers. (2019). Musculoskeletal disorders.
- Working days lost due to work-related MSDs = 9.5 million Source: Health and Safety Executive. (2020). Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSDs) Statistics in Great Britain, 2020.
- 5% of sickness absence becomes long-term, lasts over four weeks, and accounts for almost half of the total working days lost each year Source: Department for Work and Pensions. (2021). Sickness Absence in the Labour Market: 2021.
- There is an 80% chance that if absent for six months, an individual will be out of work for five years Source: The Work Foundation. (2011). Health at Work: An Independent Review of Sickness Absence.
- 60% of people on long-term sick leave cite musculoskeletal disorders as the cause Source: NHS Employers. (2019). Musculoskeletal disorders.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Work is good for mental health and well-being. Employment is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes and better quality of life."
A study published in the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation found that "early access to physiotherapy reduces the likelihood of an employee taking sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and can lead to significant cost savings."
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) reported that "musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK, accounting for 30.8 million lost working days in 2016."
The CSP also found that "physiotherapy intervention can reduce the length of sickness absence and improve return to work rates."
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work reported that "good workplace health management can reduce sickness absence rates by 25%."
Overall, these statistics suggest that providing physiotherapy to employees can have significant benefits, including reducing sickness absence rates, improving mental and physical health outcomes, and leading to cost savings for businesses.