Schedule a Free Consultation
- Helps You Become Physically Fit For Your Particular Job
- Avoid Risks That May Cause Flare-Ups On The Job
- Return To Work Sooner
- Become More Fit and Healthy - Helps Prevent Future Injuries
- Increase Self Confidence - Face Physical Challenges Of Workplace With A Renewed Vigor
Working conditioning or hardening is a rehabilitation and exercise program that is aimed specifically to restore an individual's strength and capacity to work to optimal capacity, after his return to work from an injury. The rehabilitation program includes strengthening muscles that are used for work; improve cardiovascular, neuromuscular and biomechanical functions of the worker.
The individual is asked to do real work or simulated activity that can mime his or her job profile. Through work conditioning, we can measure how really fit you are do the duties that are a part of your job profile. Even if you may be treated for health problems or injuries, you may not still be fit to do our duties, and prone to future injury.
Work conditioning measures your capability to do tasks that are demanded at work place. Also you are helped to improve over all health through exercises and regular conditioning with the goal of reaching your former level of strength and stamina.
One U.S study demonstrated that a work hardening program increased the rate of return to work by 52% in patients off work for greater than 4 months.
Another study produced convincing evidence in a randomized study that a work conditioning program was useful in producing a higher percentage of return to work and an earlier return to work in a group of patients off work for at least 2 months.
Work condition has exercise programs that can help us with body mechanics, improve our cardiovascular functions, help us regain skills necessary for our vocation and strengthen the muscles that are needed for the job that we do.
The question of work condition or work hardening comes into play when we take a leave for medical treatment for an injury or illness. It may be possible that even after getting well, we may not be ‘physically fit’ for our work.
There may still be something lacking. So work conditioning or work hardening has a set of programs that analyze what we lack and how we can bridge this gap.
After doing the activities and exercises which are part of work conditioning, we not only regain our formal level of productivity and strength, but we can also excel at our work, due to best health practices that we experience during the course of work conditioning,
1. Are there tests carried out for work conditioning?
There are tests done to find out how efficient and effective a worker can be, when he or she returns to work place. Tests are done to find out cardiovascular strength, coordination, flexibility, aerobic and anaerobic activity and evaluating body fat, among other programs.
2. How is a person’s functional ability evaluated?
To know about a person’s functional ability at work, the individual is asked about his or her responsibilities at work. Their detailed medical history is studied and compared with the present progress in terms of recuperation from a health problem. Functional testing is done in terms of finding out the person’s ability to do exercises like push-ups, squats, bending, lifting objects, using of hands to do various tasks and other work-related tasks.
3. How long do the work conditioning or work hardening evaluation last?
Since evaluations are of a detailed nature, it can take about 3 hours or so.
4. Can the job profile of an employee be modified through work conditioning?
Yes, the individual’s ability to do various tasks related to the job is assessed. He or she is encouraged to do similar work though simulated activities. However, if the patient is not able to do the same kind of work that he used to do before the injury, a report is sent to the employer to suggest some changes in the work profile of the employee to suit his ability. The employer is more than welcome to incorporate the changes on medical grounds, instead of being unjust and unfair to the employee.
5. Which is the best time to go for work conditioning or work hardening?
The best time to go for work conditioning is when the individual is medically fit to be discharged but he or she is not ‘fit’ enough to handle the tasks and pressures of the job.
No Precautions At This Time To Report
Top Reasons To Consider Work Conditioning Program:
Helps the individual become physically and mentally fit for the job: Become more confident in our ability to do work well. Know the factors that may cause flare-ups on the job, and avoid such scenarios. Prepares yourself physically and mentally to go back to work safely.
Faster return to work: it has been observed that people who undergo work conditioning report faster return to work times. Often, the more delay, the less likely an individual is to go back to work. Work conditioning and work hardening helps remove mental and physical blocks and helps you get back to work as quickly as possible.
Increased socialization: Often when a person is discharged and told to rest at home, it can be taxing and demotivating. Work conditioning helps to keep us connected - socialize better with an injury. It can be stressful and lonely to sit at home and do nothing. The interpersonal interaction, stress busting atmosphere, and physical activity can help reduce stress and make us feel better and even newly invigorated.
Become more fit and healthier: As a part of the daily exercise progress and fitness regime, it's not unusual to feel healthier and fitter. There are possibilities that can help you feel healthier and fitter than before your injury. Work conditioning is productive, healthy and optimum use of the time period for work injuries.
 |