Work Hardening Physical Therapy & Assessments

Work Hardening

Our Work Hardening Physical Therapy & Assessments return the employee to work safely following a lengthy period of sickness absence.

Work Hardening rehabilitation support

Work Hardening Programmes return the employee to work safely following a lengthy period of sickness absence whilst mitigating the risk of relapse.

Features

For the employer

Employee absence as a consequence of illness or injury is costly to any organisation at any time and the longer an employee is out of work, the more costs are faced. In addition, the longer an employee is out of work because of an illness or injury, the less likely they are to return to work. Studies suggest that when an employee is out of work for more than six months, they have less than a 50% chance of ever returning to work in any capacity. A return-to-work program can reduce the length of absence by an average of 3.6 weeks. (ONS 2021)
For the manager

Our Work Hardening Rehabilitation programmes combine various techniques which aim to return an employee to their best possible performance level. Focusing on strength, endurance, resilience, flexibility, coordination, and agility we endeavour to return employees, confidently to their working roles following long-term absence as a consequence of general illness, surgery, long-term muscular dysfunction or following a diagnosis of a disabling condition.
For the employee

Work Hardening rehabilitation support allows employees to achieve their working goals and has the follow-on effect of supporting goal achievement outside of work, improving lifestyle habits, quality of life and functionality in the long term.

Employees returning to work following prolonged absence or a significant physical health issue may have diminished stamina, reduced muscle tone and muscle memory, adverse fears related to physical activity and potentially severe weakness in an effected limb or trunk area.

Physio Solutions Rehabilitators support these individuals to re-establish their pre-absence functional stamina and physical capacity; defined as ‘Work Hardening’. Work Hardening is a physical conditioning program that includes a cognitive-behavioural approach and intensive physical training that embraces aerobic capacity, muscle strength, endurance and coordination related to the workplace.

The programmes are managed and supervised by an appropriate healthcare professional or through a clinical multidisciplinary team approach. Physio Solutions Rehabilitation Specialists and Musculoskeletal Experts are trained to deliver these programmes and return your employees back to their desired working level by working collaboratively with you and your employee.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Work Hardening FAQs

What does a work hardening programme consist of?

Work Hardening is a programme of progressive, graduated, task-specific physical strengthening and cardiovascular improvement techniques to enable a person to become fitter specific to a task demand performance.
What is the difference between work hardening and work conditioning?

Work Hardening: highly structured, goal orientated, individualised treatment program designed to return a person back to work. Addresses MSK, functional activities and performance at work, utilising real or simulated work activities to restore physical, behavioural and vocational functions.

Work Conditioning: work-related, intensive, goal-orientated treatment program, designed to restore individual systemic neuromusculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary functions. Treatment involves exercise alongside functional activities.
How long does work hardening last?

Work Hardening is a 6 session programme over 12 weeks.