If you've sustained a work-related injury that has kept you from returning to work for some time, you may feel anxious about going back on the job. It's understandable that even after a typical period of rehabilitation, you may be unsure about your ability to perform your duties safely and effectively.
At Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, our Work Conditioning program is a high-level therapeutic intervention that is designed to help patients ease back into their work routines and perform to the best of their functional ability after an injury. Here are the areas in which our Work Conditioning program can help you regain function and confidence:
1 - Building Strength
Depending on the type of injury you've sustained, you may have experienced some muscle weakness. This can happen due to the fact that the muscles may have atrophied from disuse during the healing process. Work conditioning helps to gradually rebuild any lost strength so that you can safely and effectively perform your work duties. In our Work Conditioning program, we help patients regain strength through a series of exercises that gradually increase in intensity.
2 - Improving Mobility
Another common effect of an injury is reduced mobility. This is especially true if the nature of your work injury involves your joints, such as a shoulder or knee injury. This may make it difficult to perform your work duties, as well as complete everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping. In our Work Conditioning program, we help patients improve their mobility through a combination of stretching exercises and functional activities. Functional activities are designed to simulate real-life movements so that patients can practice performing them in a safe and controlled environment.
3 - Boosting Power
In addition to strength and mobility, patients in our Work Conditioning program also work on regaining power. Power is the ability to generate force quickly, and it's an important aspect of many work tasks. For example, if you work in construction, you may need to lift heavy objects or use tools that require a lot of force. In our Work Conditioning program, we help patients regain power through a combination of exercises that focus on explosiveness and speed.
4 - Increasing Endurance
Another common goal of our Work Conditioning program is to help patients improve their endurance. This is the ability to sustain physical activity for a long period of time without getting tired. For many people, this is an important aspect of their work, especially if their job involves manual labor. Endurance can often be compromised after an injury due to the fact that the body has grown unaccustomed to performing at a high level. In our Work Conditioning program, we help patients improve their endurance through a series of exercises that gradually increase in intensity and duration.
5 - Regaining Motor Control
After an injury, it's not unusual for patients to experience some loss of motor control. This is the ability to control the movement of your muscles. Motor control can be affected by a variety of factors, including muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and nerve damage. The Work Conditioning program at Barrington Orthopedic Specialists is designed to help patients regain motor control through a combination of exercises and activities, giving them greater peace of mind as they return to the workplace.
6 - Enhancing Functional Abilities
The ultimate goal of our Work Conditioning program is to help patients enhance their functional abilities. Functional ability is the ability to perform the tasks that are required for your job. In our Work Conditioning program, we help patients enhance their functional abilities through a combination of exercises and activities that are specific to their job duties. This allows them to practice performing their work tasks in a safe and controlled environment so that they can confidently return to work.
Get Back to Work Stronger Than Ever With BOS
If you've been injured on the job, the Work Conditioning program at Barrington Orthopedic Specialists can help you regain more than just your function -- we can help you build confidence and return to work feeling stronger than ever. Our program is designed to help patients rebuild strength, improve mobility, increase power, and enhance their functional abilities.
To learn more about how our work conditioning program can help you, watch our informational video here(opens in a new tab), or reach out to us at (847) 885-0078.
Ready to get started on your road to recovery? Request an appointment here. We look forward to serving you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is work conditioning different from traditional physical therapy?
Work conditioning is a specialized program that focuses on preparing an injured worker to return to their job duties. Unlike traditional physical therapy, performed by a physical therapist, which generally aims to improve overall function and quality of life, work conditioning specifically targets the patient's physical capacity to perform their job tasks in a safe and timely manner. This may involve job-specific training and simulated work tasks to help patients regain the strength, mobility, and endurance needed for their specific job demands.
Is work conditioning only for injured workers?
While work conditioning is commonly used to help injured workers return to their jobs, it can also be beneficial for other labor-intensive professionals such as athletes or manual laborers who need to maintain a certain level of physical fitness and function for their jobs. Work conditioning can also be beneficial for anyone looking to improve their overall strength, mobility, and endurance.
How does work conditioning help improve patients' aerobic capacity?
Aerobic capacity is the ability of the body to transport and utilize oxygen during physical activity. Work conditioning can help improve aerobic capacity through a combination of cardiovascular exercises and functional activities. These exercises are designed to gradually increase in intensity and duration, helping patients build endurance and improve their overall aerobic capacity.
Does work conditioning include job task training?
Yes, job task training is a crucial component of work conditioning. This involves simulating or practicing specific job tasks and movements in a controlled environment to help patients regain the necessary physical abilities for their jobs. By incorporating job task training into work conditioning, patients can confidently return to work knowing they have the strength and skills needed to perform their job duties safely and effectively.
