A Day in the Life of a Bodycare Onsite Osteopath

Written by: Dr. Matthew Arena
Registered Osteopath, Bodycare Workplace Solutions

Working as a Bodycare Onsite Osteopath across various worksites in Victoria, I work across a range of Victorian worksites, helping teams stay healthy through hands-on treatment, functional assessments, ergonomic guidance, and injury prevention – all from an osteopathic perspective. While physiotherapists and exercise physiologists are commonly found in these settings, osteopaths bring a unique, whole-body approach to patients.

Each day begins with checking in at the site and setting up in the onsite health room – a dedicated space where workers can easily access support without needing to leave work. This low-barrier approach means early niggles are caught and treated before they become major issues. Workers often come in with back tightness from lifting, shoulder strain from repetitive overhead tasks, or discomfort from standing or sitting for long periods. I integrate hands-on therapy dependant on individual patient’s biomechanical changes with movement retraining, and postural education – all tailored to the demands of the job, and even outside the workspace.

Throughout the day, I also spend time on the floor observing tasks. Whether it’s shadowing a warehouse picker or assessing a forklift operator’s seated posture, these observations help me understand the physical challenges of the role and inform more effective treatment and advice. Rather than focusing purely on the site of pain, I’m assessing how the entire body is responding – is another joint compensating? Is fascia restricting movement? Are spinal or rib mechanics limiting function?

Education plays a huge role in prevention. I regularly run short, practical “toolbox talks” with teams on common injury risks – like neck and upper back tension – offering simple mobility tips and postural resets that workers can implement right away. These sessions are always well received and often lead to more proactive engagement with health onsite.

Between appointments, I complete clinical notes, highlight injury trends, and collaborate with health and safety teams to plan for modifications, return-to-work plans, or further assessments. And it’s not just manual labourers – office workers also benefit from ergonomic assessments and treatment for posture-related strain, headaches, or repetitive stress issues.

By the end of the day, I’ve supported a wide range of individuals, provided immediate care, and contributed to a healthier, more resilient workforce. Being onsite means I can respond in real-time, build strong rapport with staff, and create a workplace culture where injury prevention is part of the daily routine.

Osteopathy has a powerful role to play in workplace health. We treat the whole person, not just the injury. We blend hands-on therapy with movement advice. And we focus on prevention, not just recovery.

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Looking for a proactive way to reduce workplace injuries and support your people?

At Bodycare Workplace Solutions, our onsite osteopaths – like Matt – work directly with your team to identify risks early, treat issues before they escalate, and embed health and movement education into daily routine

Contact us to learn more about our onsite injury prevention programs.