significant features.
Mr Annells noted that Dr Selvadurai's certificate cleared her of restrictions, but the worker felt that she had inadequate physical strength and fitness to perform various duties, nor did she feel mentally ready for exposure to the client that had assaulted her. The worker expressed strong views about the manner in which she had felt she had been managed pre- and post-injury. Mr Annells noted that the knees did not feature strongly in functional tests, and that the most consistent and recurrent biomechanical feature was the worker's reduced spine-neutral control and predisposition to active extensor patterning. Mr Annells noted that the severe pain experienced was not readily explained based on the injuring mechanisms. He found that there was a disconcertingly high conversion of pain to disability. Mr Annells declined to make any comment about the psychological variables present, but found that the physical component of her injury is the lesser concern, and rather the psycho-industrial grievances and coping deficiencies at work. Mr Annells considered that it was not her physical compromise to be primarily injury-related, but rather due to age, posture, and weight that was on the cusp of 'severely' and 'severely obese'. Mr Annells saw no medical reason why the worker could not perform domestic chores at work or in her own home.
Dr Andrew Mintz provided a brief report on 27 January 2016. The report states that the worker twisted her knee on 26 November, and was experiencing anteromedial knee pain. Further, that the worker had been on light duties and a low back problem, and a stress claim. The report states that the worker had jarred her knee and aggravated a previously asymptomatic osteoarthritis, but that an arthroscopy should be avoided at present and was indeed unlikely to make a major improvement to her. Dr Mintz recommended more physiotherapy, some weight loss to help her knee and back and, if in another month she hadn’t improved, an ultrasound guided Marcaine and Steroid injection.
Michael Craig provided a report dated 21 January 2016. He stated that the worker presented as a hard worker who was struggling with past difficulties, her over all psychological resistance having suffered. The worker recounted her prior work injury history at the YMCA and more recently a number of work relationship issues at Anglicare SA, and back, neck, shoulder and knee injuries. He recommended that the workplace be more supportive of the worker with clear expectations and strategies to resolve potential conflict.
Ben Adcock, an occupational physician, provided an assessment dated 17 December 2015. He obtained a history of the worker's work related injuries, and provided an assessment of her activities of daily living, recommendations modifying how activities are performed and equipment used. The history included kicking the chair, being kicked by a client, the bear hug, and another occasion of being kicked and pushed. The worker reported symptoms including right shoulder stiffness, bilateral scapular pain, right hip and groin pain, "thoraco" lumbar back pain, and right knee pain. He noted that the worker could tolerate walking and sitting, and some difficulty and discomfort low and upper level reaching. The report states that the worker's difficulties mainly include daily living tasks. The worker reported difficulties including when food shopping, getting dressed, washing her hair, cleaning dishes, and tidying up.
The report recommended that her sons provide greater assistance in cleaning, and a once off paid clean of the home. Further, that the worker be provided a lightweight upright vacuum cleaner, lightweight mop and bucket, and duster. The report also recommended various strategies to help the worker with cleaning including evenly distributing tasks between hands and other body movements to redistribute pressure.
Psychologist Kate Brooks provided a report on 12 April 2013. The report includes the worker's Major Depressive episode, and the long and complex history in regards to the causation of her symptoms. The focus of the report was on the YMCA and the treatment of the worker by their staff. This included the bottle throwing incident, and management 'nitpicking'. The report states that the worker was incapacitated for work with the YMCA, but had capacity to work elsewhere.
A medical report from Dr Wei Lim dated 19 March 2013 states that the worker had a likely Adjustment disorder with depressive symptoms and acopia.
The report states that the worker had several incidences that occurred at work since 2011 that contributed to her current condition. In 2011, the worker was called incompetent by a senior worker, and in 2012 was hit by a bottle. Another client she had been transporting had become physically and verbally abusive. The worker told Dr Lim that she was very pressured and stressed at work as her role changed often without adequate training. The worker was seeing psychologist Kate Brooks and not on any
medications.