6 things to know about how work hardening programs are carried out

If you’ve been injured on the job, then proper recovery is essential. It’s important that you don’t return to work too early, because you don’t want to risk the symptoms flaring up again or causing more severe damage to your body.

There are many programs that are designed to help workers stay safe and healthy in the workplace. Not only are there prevention programs, but there are programs that can help you after you’ve sustained an injury. One program is called a work hardening program.

We’ll discuss the basics of work hardening programs and what you should know about them.

What is a work hardening program?

A work hardening program refers to a therapeutic treatment program that helps people return to work following an injury. It’s meant specifically for workers’ compensation clients to help them return to the job with the same abilities they had before they were injured.

Work hardening treatment is highly structured and personalized to each client’s specific job requirements. On top of enabling them to return to their particular work tasks, they help restore a variety of functions that may be impacted by a work site injury, including physical, vocational and behavioral abilities. It focuses on both your physical and mental health.

It’s important to note that work hardening is different from work conditioning programs. Work conditioning focuses solely on improving work-specific physical abilities, such as motor skills, mobility and strength.

6 things to know about work hardening programs

Work hardening treatment can play a vital role in your injury recovery, but it’s important to know what to expect. By learning about what’s involved in the program, you can understand how it will improve every facet of your health and get both your mind and body ready to return to a job that caused your injury.

Here are six things to know about how work hardening programs are carried out:

• Highly regimented schedule — One of the ways that work hardening programs stand out from other treatment plans is that it’s highly regimented and takes up an ample amount of your time. Most programs will take place between three to five days a week with sessions lasting up to eight hours each day. You’ll likely start at about four hours a day, and gradually increase each week. The program can last between four and eight weeks.
• Several tests to complete — Proper assessment is crucial to a personalized treatment program. Before starting your sessions, you’ll be asked to complete a variety of physical and mental health tests so that your therapists can see how you improve over the course of the program. The tests will assess things like your motor skills and joint flexibility.
• Focus on work simulation — The goal of a work hardening program is to restore the abilities required for your particular job. That’s why work simulation is a large part of the treatment. You will perform job simulation exercises that mimic tasks you have to carry out at your job. They will gradually increase in difficulty as you progress. For example, you may start off by sitting in a chair but work your way up to carrying heavy supplies.
• Education is essential — It’s not enough just to restore your health so that you can return to your job. It’s important to learn about how to continuously improve your health and wellness to reduce the risk of recurring issues. Educational components of your program may include nutrition planning or watching informative videos.
• Beyond physical health — What makes work hardening so effective is that it focuses not just on your physical health, but also your behavioral and mental health. It’s important that you’re mentally and emotionally prepared to return to work in a location that has caused you trauma. 
• Multidisciplinary team — Throughout the work hardening program, you’re given a multidisciplinary team to support you every step of the way. The team will consist of a variety of experienced professionals to help you with every facet of your recovery. The team includes a physical therapist as well as a psychologist, occupational therapist and vocational specialist.

Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation can help you return to work with a work hardening program

It’s not easy to return to work after an on-site injury. Not only has your body been impacted but so has your mental health. But through our work hardening program, you can get back to your job while feeling confident in your ability to complete your tasks in a timely and effective manner.

Contact our team today to discover more information about all our PT services or to set up your initial appointment with us.