Industrial therapy is a type of rehabilitation aimed at helping injured workers return to work safely and effectively, avoid re-injuries, and to help with prevention and reduction of work-related injuries. We must remember that industrial does not automatically mean that it is labor intensive. It includes jobs that are repetitive or that may involve awkward positions or motions. This type of therapy may include some if not all of the following types of treatments/programs/tests: physical and/or occupation therapy (worker compensation focused), Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE), Work Conditioning, Work Hardening, or Ergonomics.
Worker Compensation physical/occupation therapy is different than other physical therapy because the treatment and therapy goals should include returning the patient back to their job or type of job. The therapy will still include manual interventions (active/passive range of motion, manual stretching, and soft tissue/joint mobilizations), stretching, and injury specific strengthening and stabilization, but should also include job specific strengthening and training.
A FCE is an objective, functional evaluation of a series of tests administered to help determine current functional and physical status, and then using that information to see if the patient is ready to return to their own or any type of work and if they require any type of limitations. Not all worker compensation cases need a FCE. Some injuries don’t limit work duties and many times physical and/or occupational therapy provides the healing and assistance to return a patient to work safely. But there are many benefits of a FCE:
- assist a patient’s knowledge of safe activity levels and decrease their return to work anxiety
- determine if a client has the physical abilities to meet job demands to return to their original work
- determine if work restrictions/limitations are needed
- determine if there are reasonable accommodations needed
- determine if Work Conditioning or Hardening may benefit them (if they can’t return to full duty work at this time),
- determine if a client has the physical abilities to return to any type of work
- assist in determination of a level of disability
Work Hardening is a highly structured, goal-oriented, individualized intervention program designed to return the patient/client to work; it is multidisciplinary in nature (physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, and vocational specialist). Work Conditioning is an intensive, work-related, goal oriented conditioning program designed to specifically restore neuromuscular and musculoskeletal function including strength, power, endurance, joint mobility, ROM (range of motion), motor control, cardiovascular endurance and functional abilities; alternative to work hardening for those who do not need behavioral/pain management or vocational interventions.
Ergonomics (per OSHA) is the study of work and is based on the principle that the job should be adapted to fit the person, rather than forcing the person to fit the job. Ergonomics includes restructuring or changing workplace conditions to make the job easier and reducing/stressors that cause cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive motion injuries.
All these types of treatments/programs are aimed at help injured workers return to work safely and help with prevention and reduction of work-related injuries and re-injuries. ProActive Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine’s therapists all work with WC patients and have a collaborative goal of getting all their patients back to work, play, and their life safely.