Temple Physical Therapy Work Hardening and Conditioning
Offered at Temple Physical Therapy is the ONLY program in the state of Connecticut. It is a structured individualized treatment program designed to maximize the patient's ability to return to work. The Work Hardening/Conditioning Program is an interdisciplinary approach in rehabilitation which utilizes strength and conditioning techniques to progressively improve biomechanics, neuromuscular efficiency, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. The Work Hardening/Conditioning Program uses real or simulated work tasks to prepare the patient for a safe transition back into the work force and helps prevent reinjury.
- Who will benefit from the Work Hardening/Conditioning Program?
- Firefighters, Correction Officers, FBI Agents, Police Officers, Postman, Electricians, Plumbers, Construction Workers, Healthcare Providers, Mechanics, Delivery Drivers, Painters,and any other labor intensive professionals
- What are the components of the Work Hardening/Conditioning Program?
- Development of strength and endurance of the individual in relation to the return to work goal
- Simulation of the critical work demands, the tasks and the enviroment of the job the worker will return to
- Education that stresses body mechanics, work pacing, safety and injury prevention and that promotes worker responsibility and self-management
- Assessment of the need for job modifications. If the worker can return to the stated job goal but only with changes, i.e., added equipment, changes in work position or ergonomics changes at the work site, these are to be documented and reported to the claims manager/ VRC
- What is the difference between Work Hardening and Work Conditioning?
- According to Matheson, the Work Hardening Program is interdisciplinary in nature, using conditioning tasks that are graded to progressively improve the biomechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, metabolic and psychosocial functions of the individual in conjunction with real or simulated work activities. The Work Hardening Program provides a transition between acute care and return to work while addressing the issue of productivity, safety, physical tolerances, and work behaviors. The Work Hardening Program is a highly structured, goal oriented, individualized treatment program designed to maximize the indiviual's ability to return-to-work
- According to Matheson, the Work Conditioning Program is an intensive, goal-oriented treatment program specifically designed to restore an individual's systemic, neurological, musculoskeletal (strength, endurance, movement, flexiblity, and motor control), and cardiopulmonary functions. The objective of the Work Conditioning Program is to restore the client's physical capacity and funtion to the extent that the client can return to work
