Workplace injuries can be crippling in a number of ways. For the worker, an injury can be physically and financially incapacitating, and can gnaw away at their overall morale. For the employer, the medical and legal expenses and lost productivity associated with an injury can ultimately hurt the company’s bottom line.
Physical therapy is essentially an injured worker’s ticket to a quick and successful recovery. The treatment discipline utilizes various modalities, techniques, and patient education strategies aimed at helping the injured worker regain their full strength and prior level of functioning, optimize their work performance, and minimize their risk of future injuries.
Below is an outline of the benefits of physical therapy for work-related injuries.
Injury Prevention
Biomechanics refers to the way the body moves, and as movement specialists, physical therapists are adept at identifying and correcting faulty biomechanics and helping people move efficiently.
Your physical therapist will do a biomechanical assessment to determine any movement patterns and other factors associated with your injury and teach you proper technique. For instance, your PT will teach you how to improve your posture and engage the correct muscle groups when pushing or lifting/carrying heavy objects, to minimize your risk of future injuries at work.
Quick but Cautious Approach to Facilitating Recovery
Your PT will perform a physical assessment and, based on the results, will design a treatment plan that takes a safe and cautious approach to helping you recover quickly and at a good-performance level. Your treatment plan likely includes a combination of the following modalities:
- Customized progressive exercise programs
- Pain-relieving and therapeutic modalities (e.g., electrical stimulation, heat and cold therapy, massage therapy, etc.)
- Patient education – Your physical therapist will also teach you how to safely perform your daily activities while you are recovering as well as explain what your limitations are. Your PT will also train you on how to properly use assistive devices, such as mobility aids (e.g., canes, crutches, walkers, etc.)
- Home exercise program (HEP) – to strengthen your muscles, improve your muscle memory, and help you regain your normal function faster
Workers’ Comp and Physical Therapy Services in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol TN
At Watauga Orthopaedics, we understand and acknowledge the importance of a healthy and fully functional workforce. Through our workers’ comp services, our highly qualified physicians and physical therapists provide prompt, personalized, and comprehensive care for injured workers—helping them get back to earning a living in the fastest and safest way possible. Our dedicated liaison works closely with the case manager, employer, and insurer to ensure they are all apprised of the worker’s treatment plan, progress in recovery, and status.
To schedule an appointment, give our staff a call at (423) 282-9011 or fill out our online request form. If you have a work-related injury that requires immediate treatment, we have an orthopedic urgent care clinic on site, where you can simply walk in and be seen within minutes – no need for appointment! Visit us Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
We have three locations at which to serve you: in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol. We look forward to serving you soon!
