Gresham Urgent Care : Departments : Physical Therapy

What is a Work Conditioning Program?

A Work Conditioning Program helps return an individual back to work functioning at their optimal capacity after an injury by incorporating physical conditioning, work simulation and education to build strength and endurance, and improve function, while helping to prevent re-injury.

What are the components of a Work Conditioning Program?

Gresham Urgent Care's Work Conditioning program incorporates eight components to complete, well-rounded, effective treatment plan. These components are:

Patient Education: To address factors involved that may have caused the injury and ways to prevent future injuries.
Modalities / Manual Therapy: To decrease muscular tension, improve circulation and increase flexibility. The three of these used together increase the healing rate.
Home Exercise Program: Because it is important for the injured worker to take an active role in their recovery we develop an independent program so they can continue on their own after therapy.
Postural / Body Mechanic Instruction: The physical therapist will address both correct at work and at home body positions.
Cardiovascular Conditioning: Cardiovascular conditioning is vital to all components of a healthy life-style. We have various machines to help improve cardio activity including treadmill, stationary bike and UBC (upper body cycle).
Joint Stability: Exercises designed to increase joint stability and integrity. We focus on all areas including pelvic, shoulder, knee and lumbar.
Strength Conditioning: We use resistive training on circuit weight machines, free weights and stairs just to name a few to increase injured worker's strength.
Job Simulation: Vital to any work hardening program we use actual job task simulation to prepare the individual to re-enter their job.

How long does a Work Conditioning last?

A work hardening program is variable in length depending on the injury and the worker but is generally anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks. This is with the injured worker coming in 3 to 5 times per week for 1 to 8 hours each time. The program provides independence, structure and repetition. Staff is present throughout the entire program to provide supervision, support and encouragement as well as to address issues with body mechanics deficits, energy conservation techniques and proper use of the body. The focus of Gresham Urgent Care's Work Conditioning program is to not only help develop strength and physical endurance but also to help with work pacing, healthy employee attitudes and an increase sense of the workers competence.

NOTE: A Work Hardening program is a program for injured workers that is coordinated with the treating physician and the insurance carrier. It is not a self-referral program.

For more information please contact the Physical Therapy Department at 503-924-1383.