Home
Up

 

 

 

 

Community Physical Therapy's

Return to Work Program

 

Community Physical Therapy's Return to Work Program is an individualized program whose focus is on returning you back to work.  The program is tailored to meet your needs in regards to the condition being treated as well as his/her job requirements.  This means that not all of our Return to Work Program patients will be performing the same exercises for various conditions. 

Our Mission: To return you to your job as quickly as possible and to educate you on self-management of your condition.  With this knowledge of self-management and understanding your condition, you are less likely to suffer re-injuries.

Our Return to Work Program has three distinct components. 

 
1) New/chronic injury and/or surgery

At this stage, you would receive an evaluation based on the mechanical diagnosis and treatment (McKenzie) guidelines. When you come in for a McKenzie assessment, you will receive a thorough examination that is designed to identify the underlying cause of your pain. The assessment focuses on how specific movements or positions affect your pain. This gives the therapist relevant information about what is producing your pain and what you need to do to abolish it. It is usually possible to predict the course and outcome of treatment in one to two sessions. The average number of sessions for non-operative cases is 7.

Once a direction has been found that is beneficial for you, an individualized program will be establish based on this directional preference. Your therapist will help you with the progression of your program as well as problem solve the difficulties you are having.

 
2) Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)

A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) as applied to the workers compensation system is a battery of standardized tests used to access a worker's functional capacities for return to work.

The FCE that CPT utilizes is the Fishbain RFC. Unlike other subjective non-standardized FCEs, the validity and reliability of the Fishbain RFC-FCE have been established. The evaluation takes about five (5) hours to perform and tests your ability to push/pull, lift/carry, balance, perform fine motor skills and overall endurance. During the FCE, a mechanical evaluation will also be performed to determine if there is an underlying mechanical problem that has not been properly addressed. In addition, you will answer various functional questionnaires to determine your perceived level of disability. From all of these tests, our therapists can then determine your return to work status or if you would benefit from a work-conditioning program.

Aim of the Assessment

To help determine your ability over various physical demands to help facilitate your functional recovery.

Application:

An FCE can be used as a source of information for:

bulletDeveloping return to work programs
bulletCommunicating relevant information to you, your treating medical team and employer
bulletAssessing your ability to meet the various physical demands when other sources do not provide this information
bulletDeveloping a work conditioning program
3) Work Conditioning

Our workers' conditioning program is different than other programs in that we take a mechanical approach to developing an exercise program for you. You will receive an individualized program for your condition based on the FCE and mechanical evaluation to help you meet your job requirements.

Program Content

All programs will be based on a mechanical approach with your program individualized to meet your job requirements. Your treatment program will consist of strength training, neuromuscular re-education, balance training, functional work activities, and patient education

Treatment Sessions

Programs will vary depending on your needs and goals. Programs can vary from 3-5 days per week and from 2-6 hours per day. You will perform cardio-vascular activities as well as functional work tasks. Any underlying mechanical problems will be addressed at this time.

For more information on CPT's Return to Work Program or to make an appointment or referral please call 630-282-5588
 
Send mail to webmaster@cptrehab.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Community Physical Therapy
Last modified: 05/22/08