• Injured workers benefit by returning to work earlier & stronger along with better mechanics, than workers who received no therapies

• Early implementation of treatment of musculoskeletal issues allows many employees to return to work in a shorter period of time

• Some employees require additional more work appropriate therapies prior to returning to work, for them work

• Work conditioning and work hardening programs address the physical, vocational, psychosocial needs of the employee, allowing them to return to work.

• Work simulated activities are progressive in nature allowing the employee to receive focused therapy mimicking their full time “pre-injury” job

WORK CONDITIONING

• Physical component of returning the injured employee to work

• Work simulated activities that are progressive in physical demand effort required, difficulty or complexity of task, & duration of work activities

• Safe work practices & ergonomic changes with activities are stressed throughout the program

• Objective - restore physical strength to allow the employee to return to work at the appropriate physical demand level specified by the US Department of Labor Dictionary of Occupational Titles job description

• Sessions generally progress from 2 hours to 4, 6, or 8 hour appointments, increasing as the patient progresses

WORK HARDENING

• Multi-disciplinary approach of treating the physical (work conditioning), psychosocial, & vocational needs of the injured worker

• Multiple practitioners work together to address the whole person