Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations at 1904.5 define a work-related injury as an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness that causes a need for medical treatment and/or time away from work.
The “work environment” not only includes the place of employment but also other locations where one or more employees are working or are present as a condition of their employment. This includes employees working at home (telecommuting).
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1904.5 – Determination of work-relatedness.
Work Conditioning Helps People Safely Return to Work
Injured workers are typically referred to physical therapy as a conservative and cost-effective way of treatment. Upon completion of physical therapy, these workers may meet the treatment goals but still may not be able to safely return to work due to deconditioning (being out of shape).
Work conditioning programs, which often simulate the demands of a given job description, are designed to help patients with the following:
- Recover their strength
- Improve endurance
- Increase flexibility & mobility
- Improve cardiorespiratory fitnes
- Personalized interventions are also provided to decrease the odds of re-injury upon return work
Typically, these programs consist of personalized, full-body, intensive training with a focus on the activities that are similar to the physical demands required by a particular category of employment.
