Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations at 1904.5 define a work-related injury as an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness that causes a need for medical treatment and/or time away from work.
The “work environment” not only includes the place of employment but also other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. This includes employees working at home (telecommuting).
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1904.5 – Determination of work-relatedness.
Work Conditioning Helps People Safely Return to Work
Injured workers are typically referred to physical therapy as a conservative and cost-effective way of treatment. Upon completion of physical therapy, these workers may meet the treatment goals but still may not be able to safely return to work due to deconditioning (being out of shape).
Work conditioning programs, which often simulate the demands of a given job description, are designed to help injured workers:
- Recover their strength
- Improve endurance
- Increase flexibility & mobility
- Improve cardiorespiratory fitness
- With personalized interventions that decrease the odds of re-injury upon return work
Work conditioning programs consist of individualized, full-body, intensive training with a focus on activities that are similar to the physical demands required by a worker’s particular occupation. They help close the gap between injured workers meeting the treatment goals of physical therapy and actually being able to safely return to work. Work conditioning programs help reduce the probability of re-injury by not only getting workers in shape to return to work but also teaching them proper ergonomics and other injury prevention techniques.
You Can Choose Who Treats Your Work-Related Injury
Did you know that you can choose where you go for your physical therapy treatment and work conditioning? Many times, workers’ comp physicians will refer you to physical therapy at one point or another in your recovery process. They generally will refer you to a therapist within their network. But, you have the right to go to a therapist that you choose. Arkansas Valley Physical Therapy has years of experience treating work-related injuries and re-conditioning workers after physical therapy. We will work closely with your employer and workers’ comp physicians to assure that you receive the best care so that you can safely return to work.
Call us today at (719) 539-3626 to find out why physicians choose Arkansas Valley Physical Therapy to rehabilitate and properly condition workers for their return to work.
