Work Hardening and Work Conditioning Programs

Program Overview

Progressive Rehabilitation Associates has been assisting injured workers back to work since 1989 in their CARF accredited Work Hardening/Conditioning Program, which is a multidisciplinary program for injured workers whose injuries or disease processes interfere with their ability to return to work. The program provides a highly structured, goal oriented, individualized treatment program designed to progressively improve biomechanical, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, metabolic and psychological functions (as needed) as a transition between acute care and return to work. Specifically the goal of the Work Hardening Program is to increase functional work tolerances for a specific job. The goal of the Work Conditioning Program is to increase functional tolerances in order to return to full-time work.

Treatment Team:

• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Psychologist (optional)
• Vocational Consultant (optional)
• Occupational Medicine Physician (optional)

Treatment Program:

• Conditioning Program, which highlights weight training, aerobic conditioning and stretching
• Work Simulation
• Ergonomics and Job Coaching as needed
• Biofeedback Therapy
• Vocational Consulting (as needed)
• Psychological intervention (as needed)

Program Goals:

The goals of the Work Hardening Program are to set, review, monitor and update weekly return to work goals and to ensure progress by:

• Improving physical capacities and functional abilities sufficiently to allow successful return to work
• Improving psychological readiness to return to work and leave the medical system