Work Conditioning Program
Beacon’s Work Conditioning Program is a high level therapeutic intervention designed to help patients regain function to meet the demands of their job and return to work. Work conditioning is ideal for patients that have already progressed through traditional physical therapy but still lack full function in relation to specific duties required of the job. Work conditioning utilizes real or simulated work tasks to help prepare patients for a safe transition back into the work force.
This conditioning program includes strength, mobility, power, endurance, motor control and functional abilities. The goals of a work conditioning program are to restore the patient’s physical capacity and functional abilities, to prevent the recurrence of the same injury, and to decrease their fear of returning to work.
Professions that can benefit from work conditioning:
- Police Officers
- Firefighters
- Military Personnel
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- FBI Agents
- Correction Officers
- Mechanics
- Construction Workers
- Healthcare Providers
- Painters
- Delivery Drivers
- Post office employees
- Chefs
- Any other labor-intensive professionals
What to expect from work conditioning:
During the first visit, the Beacon team will evaluate the injury and review the patients’ needs in relation to their job. To determine the patient’s functional baseline, the therapist will need to:
- Determine the patient’s current physical activeness (sedentary, light, medium or heavy).
- Determine the patient’s aerobic capacity (poor, fair, average, good or excellent).
- Determine the patient’s grip strength.
- Determine the patient’s mobility, core and joint specific strengths in relation to their injury.
Follow-up Visits
Once the initial assessment is completed, the clinician builds an individualized, highly structured, goal-oriented program that will be designed to increase the patient’s current physical abilities, and progress to meet the demands of the job. The program will consist of cardiovascular and strengthening exercises as well as stretching and mobility conditioning, specifically tailored to the tasks the patient is required perform at their job. This is designed to bridge the gap between acute care and return to work without restrictions, improving strength, endurance, and positional tolerance necessary for a sustainable and efficient return to work.
A typical program will have an individual report 4-5 times per week for 2-6 hours per week to work on improving confidence with a gradual build to job level performance. The duration of the program will be dependent upon the progress each individual makes while in the program.
Meet Josh True, ATC
Josh True is the lead Certified Athletic Trainer for Beacon’s Work Conditioning Program
Josh is a Certified Athletic Trainer through the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and went on to the University of Nebraska for his MA in Exercise Physiology. Josh is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. His additional certifications include various modalities of Functional Movement Systems, Graston Technique and Myofascial Decompression Treatment. Josh is a member of the NATA, GLATA, OATA, GCATA, NSCA, and FMS.
Josh has dedicated his career to helping people achieve greater wellness and regain function after injuries. He has worked with athletes of all ages and abilities, from middle schoolers to Olympians. Josh has also been a featured expert in Functional Rehabilitation and Progression at the local and state level.
Josh lives in Loveland, Ohio with his wife Erika and their three children.
Meet Mark Keiser, ATC
Mark Keiser is a Certified Athletic Trainer and a part of the Beacon Bridge Program team, specializing in Beacon’s Baseball Throwing Program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Ohio University and a Master’s degree in Athletic Training from East Carolina University. Mark is also the assistant athletic trainer at Moeller High School. Mark is dedicated to helping athletes heal from injuries and optimize their performance. He has previously worked as a Minor League Athletic Trainer and was with the Kansas City Royals for several years, including 2015 for their World Series win. He is proud to see athletes he worked with graduate from the minor to the major leagues.
Mark is an Ohio native and currently resides in Covington, KY with his wife Rachel and their children Blair and Barrett.
Benefits of a Work Conditioning Program
Beacon’s Work Conditioning Program gives the referring provider confidence in maximum improvement after interventions, the employer confidence that the injured worker can safely return to their job, and the injured worker confidence in their ability to perform job demands. This program and method of confidence-building can help eliminate guarding and poor technique that often plagues those who return to work without attempting job-specific activities at a job pace. Work conditioning can also help to reduce the likelihood of re-injury to the worker.
Work Conditioning Program Payment
If you are recommended by your physician to begin a work conditioning program, it must be approved by your worker’s compensation insurance provider. When the proper paperwork has been completed and approved our office will contact you to schedule your initial appointment.
If you are coming with an outside referral, please make sure you have the proper paperwork from your physician and worker’s compensation provider, and contact the physical therapy department to be scheduled for your initial appointment. You can also request to have your work conditioning performed at our facility, and have your physician and worker’s compensation provider send the proper paperwork over to our physical therapy department to be contacted about scheduling your initial appointment.