When an individual goes to their place of employment, there is a reasonable expectation that the conditions they will be subjected to during their shift will be as safe as possible. Some professions carry an inherent risk, such as police officers, fire fighters, construction workers, etc. Other jobs such as delivery drivers, post officers, warehouse workers, and employees of moving companies have inherently physical jobs. When an employee is injured while on the job, through no fault of their own, they are often eligible for both financial compensation during the period they are unable to work, and rehabilitation training to treat their condition and return them back to their chosen career. There are times when a standard physical therapy program is not enough to meet the needs of an employee’s specific work-related functioning. When this is the case, an employee may enter into a work hardening program, a more intensive and specifically tailored program to get an individual back to their job. Our Melbourne physical therapy practice assists in these areas.
Melbourne outpatient clinic offering work hardening programs to employees injured on the job
When an employee is injured on the job, depending on the severity and nature of the injury, the rehabilitation may be split into two parts. Once the injury has been stabilized and initially treated, physical therapy is often prescribed. This may include one to two sessions a week for anywhere from six weeks to several months. The aim of initial physical therapy is to allow the initial injury to heal, to build muscle strength, maintain and retrain muscle movement, maintain flexibility, and manage pain. However, some professions have specific needs that go beyond what most individuals require on a day-to-day basis. Work hardening programs are often multi-disciplinary and are highly tailored to the requirements of an individual’s profession. A physical therapist may work in conjunction with an occupational therapist, a psychologist, a behaviorist, or a job coach. Workers comp patients are also eligible for a translator as needed if the therapist(s) do not speak their primary language. Services may include having a professional on the job site and working with the employee until they are one hundred percent able to manage the job unassisted.
Contact our outpatient office to make an appointment
Employees who are injured on a job site are often eligible for physical therapy and work hardening programs through their workers compensation package. Employees are often referred directly to our clinic, and in this instance, we will reach out to you as soon as we are given the referral. If an individual is injured at work and not provided direct treatment options, they may wish to check with their health insurance provider or contact an employment attorney.
We service all of Brevard county including Melbourne, Titusville, Cocoa, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and Rockledge, Vierra, and the beach communities including Melbourne beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbor beach, Satellite beach, and Cocoa beach.