Work Hardening and Conditioning
at Mentor

Employees who experience lost-time, limited duty, or symptoms in response to job tasks may benefit from work hardening physical therapy services. Rendered in various phases of the injury healing process, physical therapy helps the injured employee return to safe and productive work.

The purpose of Work Conditioning and Work Hardening, as well as a combination of the two, is to help progress an injured employee’s tolerance of job or occupation-specific physical stresses. Treatment should emphasize restoration of work-related function and reconditioning.

Work Conditioning Program

An intensive work-related, goal-oriented conditioning program designed to enable the employee to return to work. The program may include:

• Multi-hour sessions up to 4 hours/day; 5 days/week; for 8 weeks
• Systemic neuromuscular functions (joint integrity and mobility)
• Muscle performance (strength, power, endurance)
• Motor function (motor control and motor learning)
• Range of motion (including muscle length)
• Cardiovascular/pulmonary functions (aerobic capacity/endurance, circulation, and ventilation, and respiration/gas exchange

Work Hardening Program

A highly structured, goal-oriented, individualized intervention program to restore physical, behavioral, and vocational functions to return the injured employee back to work. Program includes:

• Multi-hour sessions up to 8 hours/day; 5 days/week; for 8 weeks
• Multi-disciplinary approach
• Uses real or simulated work activities