Do you need a work hardening program in Windsor?
The Berton Physiotherapy & Chiropractic health team has years of experience implementing work conditioning and work hardening programs in Windsor, Ontario. We help clients experiencing pain and musculoskeletal injuries return to their full job duties after being away from work for extended periods. We have successfully helped individuals who have suffered motor vehicle accidents and work-related injuries return to work quickly and safely.
What is Work Hardening and Work Conditioning?
A Work Hardening Program is a physiotherapy-based and active rehabilitation program individually designed for clients who have not returned to their full job duties after being off work for a lengthy time period due to musculoskeletal injuries and pain. Many patients who participate in a work hardening program were involved in a motor vehicle accident or work-related injury.
The work hardening program helps to increase an individual’s strength and flexibility. This is done through exercises and work-simulated tasks to allow for a faster and safer return to work. Education for proper body mechanics and risk factors for injury are also addressed. This is to ensure that a worker returns to work quickly and safely while preventing reoccurrences of injury.
The goal of a Work-Hardening program:
- Educate clients regarding effective pain management
- Increase range of motion, flexibility, and strength of affected area(s)
- Improve functional abilities and physical ability to work
- Educate and demonstrate safe techniques (ie. lifting, carrying) and proper biomechanics with functional activities to reduce the risk of injury
- Improve cardiovascular conditioning
- Perform work-simulated movements specific to client occupation to ensure proper biomechanics
- Gradually return client to pre-accident/injury state
Components of a Work Hardening Program
- Education sessions focusing on hurt vs. harm, proper body mechanics related to work tasks, work pacing, and injury prevention. The client will learn optimal posture, back and neck care, and pain management during work tasks.
- Supportive treatment may be used by the physiotherapists and assistants (when required), to alleviate pain, decrease inflammation, and promote healing. The modalities consist of Ultrasound, acupuncture, interferential current, laser, heat/cold, and manual techniques.
- Structured exercise program, including a range of motion, flexibility, and stability, focusing on strengthening and conditioning exercises, which progress upon a patient’s tolerance. The environment for the exercise program is supervised using various gym equipment (pulleys, resistance bands, free weights, stability ball, strengthening machines, treadmills, stationary bikes, steps, and wobble boards).
- Work simulated tasks are designed according to essential tasks required on regular duties. A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) is completed with the client and employer’s input (ideal). The physiotherapist will create specific job simulation tasks which are initially supervised and will progress in frequency, load, and duration.
- Develop a home exercise program. Upon completing this program, the client is instructed on continuing ROM, flexibility, stability, strengthening, and conditioning exercises, at home, at their own pace. The client should be able to apply learned pain strategies management and use the correct ergonomics and body mechanics with work tasks.
Work Hardening Program: Recommended Length
Most commonly, a Work Hardening Program is recommended at 3-5 sessions per week, for 6-8 weeks, depending on the participant’s level and the type of job to which the participant returns. The client is expected to spend from 1 to 3 (up to 4 hours) in the facility. The length of the session will gradually increase, as the worker’s exercise tolerance and functional abilities improve. These sessions can be optimally provided up to 8 hours/day, with a frequency of 5 days/week for 8 weeks.
At Berton Physiotherapy & Chiropractic you can rest assured that our experience and track record implementing work-hardening programs in Windsor, Ontario has helped many of our patients return to work safely. We’re ready to help you too.
If you need work hardening in Windsor, Ontario then call Team Berton 519-966-8200.
Call Us Today:
Berton Physiotherapy & Chiropractic
555 Tecumseh Rd. E.
Windsor, ON
N8X 2S1
Phone: (519) 966-8200
Fax: (519) 966-0990
Mon – Thu: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Fri: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Introducing HipTrac™
HipTrac™ is a first-in-class light-weight, portable device that replicates and complements the manual therapy techniques of long axis hip traction. We are proud to be one of the first in Canada to incorporate this device into our patient’s treatment plans. Health practitioners interested in using HipTrac™ can find out more by visiting HipTrac.ca.
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