Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, VoL I, No. 1, 1991
Introductory Statement In 1987, as our group at the University of Rochester Medical Center was establishing its Center to provide comprehensive services related to evaluation, rehabilitation, and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, it became clear that, despite a significant degree of activity in the area, there were no peerreviewed journals that focused on the problem of work disability from a multidisciplinary perspective. There were specialty journals in collateral areas such as occupational medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, physical and occupational therapy, ergonomics, pain, behavioral medicine, exercise physiology, health psychology, social work, and occupational nursing to name a few. However, there were no peer-reviewed publications that attempted to synthesize knowledge from academia, clinical practice, and business in order to further the understanding of mechanisms and management of work disability in this group of prevalent disorders. It was assumed that such a publication could ultimately assist those involved in reducing the impact of this major sodetal problem on the individual worker, his or her family, the employer, and the health care and worker's compensation systems. The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation was developed to fill this void and provide a mechanism for the dissemination of new knowledge from the multiple areas that impact this problem. The journal seeks to advance the scientific understanding and management of work disability from a multidisciplinary perspective. The journal publishes investigations of clinical and basic research, theoretical formulations, literature reviews, case studies, and discussions of public policy issues. Manuscripts from the areas of ergonomics, occupational medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pain, exercise physiology, behavioral medicine, occupational and rehabilitation nursing, disability management, vocational evaluation and counseling, social work, sport psychology, rehabilitation psychology, management, law, and finance are encouraged. My intent as founder and Editor-in-Chief of this new journal is to provide a scientific, yet practical forum for those actively involved in the multiple aspects of work disability. The journal will publish research, conceptual papers, case studies, and critical reviews of major topic areas (refer to Instructions to Contributors on the back inside cover of this issue). For those involved in the day-to-day complexities of these problems, the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation will attempt to provide an empirical
1053-0487/9110300-0001506.50/0 9
1991 Plenum Publishing Corporation
2
Introductory Statement
framework (i.e., data-based) to assist in your decision making regarding the multiple aspects of these problems. The intent, whenever possible, is to provide data from controlled investigations that have practical implications for prevention and management. Oftentimes, innovative applications are not systematically subjected to the rigors of scientific investigation. Such applications, if truly unique in fostering our understanding of an important concept or strategy, despite certain methodological problems, will also be published. Given the wide diversity of opinion that exists in the field at the present time, coupled with a paucity of research on several important questions, it is intended that investigators will publish their work in the journal and this in turn will assist those of us who are currently guided by little empirical data to make decisions regarding prevention, treatment, evaluation, and rehabilitation. Such decisions can therefore be made on a more sound scientific basis. I wish to emphasize that the intent of the journal is to focus primarily on practical issues although these will be investigated using a variety of scientific approaches. Examples of such work are investigations of clinically useful and valid approaches to ergonomic job assessment; studies on the reliability and validity of a variety of evaluation approaches used to assess work disability, functional capacity, and motivation to return to work; controlled trials of various approaches to rehabilitation of the upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders, low back pain including acute, subacute, chronic, and recurrent subgroups; innovative approaches to disability management of cases with a variety of persistent low back or upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders; effects of job accommodation on return to work; cost effectiveness of various rehabilitation approaches; etc. In the area of more basic research, studies on the biomechanical, psychological, or pathophysiological factors associated with various occupational musculoskeletal disorders are also solicited. Mechanisms of change associated with safe return to work would be of interest as well as investigations of the changes that accompany active work rehabilitation at the functional and psychosocial levels and underlying factors that may account for such changes. Submissions of reviews of critical topics such as effective prevention programs for low back or upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders; multidisciplinary return to work interventions; potential role of ergonomics in occupational rehabilitation; strategies to facilitate adherence to exercise, effects of specific flexibility and strengthening exercises in rehabilitation; epidemiology of occupational musculoskeletal disorders; disability management; economic analysis of occupational musculoskeletal disorders; and reviews of various legal aspects of worker's compensation laws in various states are also sought. Case studies both on an individual patient or set of patients, as well as innovative applications of a policy, program, or intervention in a workplace or in a broader system, e.g., policy change in a statewide or province-wide worker's compensation system, would also be of interest to our readership. In recruiting the Editorial Board for this journal, the goal was to invite experts from the multiple areas involved in work disability in order to provide the breadth of scope necessary to address the problem in a comprehensive manner. As one can see from the listing on the masthead, the journal is most fortunate and has a diverse,
Introductory Statement
3
highly respected, and knowledgeable Editorial Board: one that represents academia, the clinic, business and industry, labor, and government. The success of this journal will be dependent upon meeting the information needs of its readership. Therefore, our editorial office will always have an open door policy concerning your suggestions and input. I wish to invite all those involved in the management of this complex problem to contribute to furthering our understanding and management of the occupational musculoskeletal work disabilities. It is anticipated that over the years clinicians from relevant health care areas, practitioners of ergonomics, insurance specialists, disability managers, human resource specialists, and attorneys involved in the daily challenges characteristic of this problem will contribute to the journal. I encourage you to submit letters, case studies, and position papers raising issues that need further resolution. I also invite academics in ergonomics, behavioral medicine, occupational health, orthopedics, social work, the various fields of rehabilitation, pain, public policy, economics, exercise physiology, and related fields to contribute their original research. The journal is seeking to balance contributions from varied disciplines across applied and academic sectors. Of course, any plan must pass the test of time. The journal will evolve as all others do. The "personality" of this journal will be greatly influenced by its readership, Editorial Board, and contributing authors. The challenge before us is great. It is anticipated that the outcome of such efforts should significantly impact the disabled worker, his or her family, the workplace, as well as the economic and political systems involved in work disability. Again, I invite you all to participate and look forward to working with you in the years ahead. Please send all manuscript submissions, editorial inquiries, and comments to the Editor-in-Chief: Michael Feuerstein, Ph.D., Center for Occupational Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2337 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester, New York, 14618. Please send subscription inquiries and orders directly to the publisher: Subscription Department, Plenum Press, 233 Spring Street, New York, N.Y. 10013. With your input and s u p p o r t - as readers, authors, referees, and subscribers--we hope to serve our large and diverse community well. Michael Feuerstein Editor-in-Chief
Introductory Statement In 1987, as our group at the University of Rochester Medical Center was establishing its Center to provide comprehensive services related to evaluation, rehabilitation, and prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, it became clear that, despite a significant degree of activity in the area, there were no peerreviewed journals that focused on the problem of work disability from a multidisciplinary perspective. There were specialty journals in collateral areas such as occupational medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, physical and occupational therapy, ergonomics, pain, behavioral medicine, exercise physiology, health psychology, social work, and occupational nursing to name a few. However, there were no peer-reviewed publications that attempted to synthesize knowledge from academia, clinical practice, and business in order to further the understanding of mechanisms and management of work disability in this group of prevalent disorders. It was assumed that such a publication could ultimately assist those involved in reducing the impact of this major sodetal problem on the individual worker, his or her family, the employer, and the health care and worker's compensation systems. The Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation was developed to fill this void and provide a mechanism for the dissemination of new knowledge from the multiple areas that impact this problem. The journal seeks to advance the scientific understanding and management of work disability from a multidisciplinary perspective. The journal publishes investigations of clinical and basic research, theoretical formulations, literature reviews, case studies, and discussions of public policy issues. Manuscripts from the areas of ergonomics, occupational medicine, rehabilitation medicine, orthopedics, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pain, exercise physiology, behavioral medicine, occupational and rehabilitation nursing, disability management, vocational evaluation and counseling, social work, sport psychology, rehabilitation psychology, management, law, and finance are encouraged. My intent as founder and Editor-in-Chief of this new journal is to provide a scientific, yet practical forum for those actively involved in the multiple aspects of work disability. The journal will publish research, conceptual papers, case studies, and critical reviews of major topic areas (refer to Instructions to Contributors on the back inside cover of this issue). For those involved in the day-to-day complexities of these problems, the Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation will attempt to provide an empirical
1053-0487/9110300-0001506.50/0 9
1991 Plenum Publishing Corporation
2
Introductory Statement
framework (i.e., data-based) to assist in your decision making regarding the multiple aspects of these problems. The intent, whenever possible, is to provide data from controlled investigations that have practical implications for prevention and management. Oftentimes, innovative applications are not systematically subjected to the rigors of scientific investigation. Such applications, if truly unique in fostering our understanding of an important concept or strategy, despite certain methodological problems, will also be published. Given the wide diversity of opinion that exists in the field at the present time, coupled with a paucity of research on several important questions, it is intended that investigators will publish their work in the journal and this in turn will assist those of us who are currently guided by little empirical data to make decisions regarding prevention, treatment, evaluation, and rehabilitation. Such decisions can therefore be made on a more sound scientific basis. I wish to emphasize that the intent of the journal is to focus primarily on practical issues although these will be investigated using a variety of scientific approaches. Examples of such work are investigations of clinically useful and valid approaches to ergonomic job assessment; studies on the reliability and validity of a variety of evaluation approaches used to assess work disability, functional capacity, and motivation to return to work; controlled trials of various approaches to rehabilitation of the upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders, low back pain including acute, subacute, chronic, and recurrent subgroups; innovative approaches to disability management of cases with a variety of persistent low back or upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders; effects of job accommodation on return to work; cost effectiveness of various rehabilitation approaches; etc. In the area of more basic research, studies on the biomechanical, psychological, or pathophysiological factors associated with various occupational musculoskeletal disorders are also solicited. Mechanisms of change associated with safe return to work would be of interest as well as investigations of the changes that accompany active work rehabilitation at the functional and psychosocial levels and underlying factors that may account for such changes. Submissions of reviews of critical topics such as effective prevention programs for low back or upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders; multidisciplinary return to work interventions; potential role of ergonomics in occupational rehabilitation; strategies to facilitate adherence to exercise, effects of specific flexibility and strengthening exercises in rehabilitation; epidemiology of occupational musculoskeletal disorders; disability management; economic analysis of occupational musculoskeletal disorders; and reviews of various legal aspects of worker's compensation laws in various states are also sought. Case studies both on an individual patient or set of patients, as well as innovative applications of a policy, program, or intervention in a workplace or in a broader system, e.g., policy change in a statewide or province-wide worker's compensation system, would also be of interest to our readership. In recruiting the Editorial Board for this journal, the goal was to invite experts from the multiple areas involved in work disability in order to provide the breadth of scope necessary to address the problem in a comprehensive manner. As one can see from the listing on the masthead, the journal is most fortunate and has a diverse,
Introductory Statement
3
highly respected, and knowledgeable Editorial Board: one that represents academia, the clinic, business and industry, labor, and government. The success of this journal will be dependent upon meeting the information needs of its readership. Therefore, our editorial office will always have an open door policy concerning your suggestions and input. I wish to invite all those involved in the management of this complex problem to contribute to furthering our understanding and management of the occupational musculoskeletal work disabilities. It is anticipated that over the years clinicians from relevant health care areas, practitioners of ergonomics, insurance specialists, disability managers, human resource specialists, and attorneys involved in the daily challenges characteristic of this problem will contribute to the journal. I encourage you to submit letters, case studies, and position papers raising issues that need further resolution. I also invite academics in ergonomics, behavioral medicine, occupational health, orthopedics, social work, the various fields of rehabilitation, pain, public policy, economics, exercise physiology, and related fields to contribute their original research. The journal is seeking to balance contributions from varied disciplines across applied and academic sectors. Of course, any plan must pass the test of time. The journal will evolve as all others do. The "personality" of this journal will be greatly influenced by its readership, Editorial Board, and contributing authors. The challenge before us is great. It is anticipated that the outcome of such efforts should significantly impact the disabled worker, his or her family, the workplace, as well as the economic and political systems involved in work disability. Again, I invite you all to participate and look forward to working with you in the years ahead. Please send all manuscript submissions, editorial inquiries, and comments to the Editor-in-Chief: Michael Feuerstein, Ph.D., Center for Occupational Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2337 Clinton Avenue South, Rochester, New York, 14618. Please send subscription inquiries and orders directly to the publisher: Subscription Department, Plenum Press, 233 Spring Street, New York, N.Y. 10013. With your input and s u p p o r t - as readers, authors, referees, and subscribers--we hope to serve our large and diverse community well. Michael Feuerstein Editor-in-Chief
