Population ageing and the increasing prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal disorders (CMSDs) present a major global challenge for health systems and workforce sustainability. While physiotherapy has traditionally focused on symptom management and functional recovery, there is growing recognition that work participation and sustainable employability are critical outcomes for individuals, employers, and society. However, current approaches often remain fragmented, with limited integration between clinical rehabilitation, workplace interventions, and long-term self-management. This focused symposium brings together international expertise across clinical research, occupational health, and co-produced intervention design to explore how physiotherapy can move beyond rehabilitation towards sustainable work participation.

The first presentation will provide a broader occupational health and work disability prevention perspective. Drawing on recent work applying GUIDE-Rehab reporting framework, it will explore how improved description and standardisation of rehabilitation interventions can enhance reproducibility, implementation, and real-world impact. It will highlight the role of physiotherapy in early intervention and work disability prevention pathways, bridging clinical and workplace systems.

The second presentation will examine evidence from a programme of co-produced research (JOINTWORKS) and a recent systematic review of workplace interventions for CMSDs. Findings highlight the limited effectiveness of single-component interventions and the stronger benefits of multicomponent approaches combining exercise, behavioural strategies, and workplace adaptations. Insights from patient and public involvement will demonstrate how co-production enhances relevance, accessibility, and uptake.

As a clinical application, the third presentation will focus on return-to-work following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It will explore how physiotherapists can identify individuals at risk of delayed return to work early in the rehabilitation pathway and tailor interventions accordingly, emphasising early and preventive strategies.

Across the session, speakers will highlight the importance of moving beyond isolated clinical interventions towards coordinated, multilevel strategies that address physical, psychosocial, and occupational determinants of work ability. The symposium will also consider the role of digital approaches in extending the reach and impact of physiotherapy-led interventions.

Aligned with the World Health Organization Rehabilitation 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth), this symposium positions physiotherapy as central to improving work participation, health, and productivity across diverse occupational contexts.

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